Saint Anthony's Fair

The Goro Town Festival

The Saint Anthony's Fair is the most important and defining event in Goro, a small fishing village overlooking the homonymous Sacca, at the edge of the Delta del Po in the Province of Ferrara (Emilia-Romagna). For almost a century and a half, the community has gathered every year at the beginning of summer to honor Saint Anthony of Padua, revered here as the protector of fishermen and those who live by the sea.

A Tradition Linked to the Sea

In Goro, devotion to the saint is not a mere formality; it is the thread that holds together an entire community that has lived by fishing, clams, and lagoon life for generations. The most anticipated and photographed moment is the sea procession. The saint's statue begins in a procession from the square, along streets decorated with flower arches and accompanied by a band, before being boarded onto fishing boats. The fleet, festively decorated and filled with faithful and curious onlookers, sails in formation in the Goro Sacca to a stake where the statue is placed, a symbolic gesture of protection for those who set sail each day.

Three Days of Fair

A complete popular fair, with the typical atmosphere of Emilia's village festivals, develops around the religious rite. Along Piazza Milva and via Cesare Battisti, market stalls line up: sweets, piadine, toys, gift items, clothing, and stalls from local agricultural producers. There is also a funfair for families, bingo with rich prizes in the square, a food stand, and evening musical entertainment.

Flavors of the Delta

The fair is also an opportunity to taste the products that have made this corner of Emilia-Romagna famous. The mixed fried fish from the Adriatic and lagoon specialties, starting with the famous Goro clams, are the stars of the food stands, offering an experience that combines celebration, faith, and seafood cuisine. Over the years, the event has often been held alongside the festivities of the Madonna delle Grazie, extending the celebratory weekends.

Why It's Worth It

More than just a local festival, the Saint Anthony's Fair is an authentic portrait of a fishing village in the Delta del Po. Those who visit Goro during these days will find an entire community mobilized, a maritime tradition still alive, and a water procession that remains one of the most spectacular on the entire Ferrara coast.