Saint Anthony Festival – Ville Cloze

A patronal feast in the heart of the upper Chisone Valley

The Saint Anthony Festival is the most cherished event in the hamlet of Ville Cloze, a small mountain village in the municipality of Fenestrelle, in the upper Chisone Valley, within the Metropolitan City of Turin (Piedmont). Nestled at an altitude of approximately 1,100 meters, just above Mentoulles, Ville Cloze preserves the intimate atmosphere of alpine villages, characterized by stone houses, mountain paths, and a community that gathers every year around its patron saint.

The cult of Saint Anthony of Padua

The festival is dedicated to Saint Anthony of Padua, the hamlet's patron saint, traditionally celebrated on June 13th. The spiritual heart of the day is the Saint Anthony chapel, linked to the parish of Mentoulles: a building that tells the resilient story of this mountain community. The original chapel was destroyed by the disastrous avalanches that struck Ville Cloze in the late 19th century and was later rebuilt, serving as a testament to the attachment to one's roots that still animates the festival today.

Between faith and conviviality

The central moment is the Holy Mass celebrated in the chapel, after which a blessing is imparted and the distribution of blessed bread takes place—a traditional and symbolic gesture offered by the community. The day concludes with a refreshment that brings together residents, vacationers, and hikers in a simple, family-like atmosphere.

The festival is part of the rich summer calendar E…state con noi promoted by the Municipality of Fenestrelle, which enlivens the valley's hamlets and the surroundings of the imposing Fenestrelle Fortress, the largest alpine fortification in Europe, throughout the summer season. For those who travel up here, the Saint Anthony Festival is the perfect opportunity to discover an authentic corner of the Piedmontese mountains.