Saint Anthony's Fair of Chiaravalle

A tradition spanning generations

The Saint Anthony's Fair is one of the most deeply rooted events in the calendar of Chiaravalle, a town in the province of Ancona, in the Marche region. It is held every year on January 17th, the day dedicated to Saint Anthony the Abbot, protector of animals and patron saint of farmers. For an entire day, the historic center transforms into a large open-air market: hundreds of stalls stretch along Corso Matteotti and extend to Piazza Mazzini, viale Montessori, and via Leopardi, offering goods of all kinds, typical products, sweets, and handicrafts.

Blessed bread and the blessing of animals

The religious heart of the day is the distribution of Saint Anthony's blessed bread: from the morning, at the Casa Rosa near the abbey, volunteers offer blessed rolls, maritozzi, and ring cakes of the Saint, to queues of faithful and curious onlookers. In the late afternoon, the traditional blessing of animals takes place in front of the church, a moment eagerly awaited by families bringing their pets. The day is also marked by traditional flavors: in restaurants and homes, Marche winter dishes like polenta and beans are enjoyed.

A date of celebration and remembrance

For Chiaravalle, January 17th is not only a fair day but also a day of deep remembrance. Precisely during the fair on January 17th, 1944, six Allied bombers dropped their payload on the historic center, causing about 180 victims. For this reason, alongside the festivities, the Municipality celebrates a mass in suffrage for the victims and a laying of a laurel wreath in Largo 17 Gennaio. The fair thus becomes a collective moment where the community intertwines popular joy and memory.

Atmosphere and public

• Over 300 vendors between Corso Matteotti and the streets of the center
• Blessed bread, maritozzi, and Saint Anthony's ring cakes
• Blessing of animals in the late afternoon
• Commemoration of the victims of the 1944 bombing
• Marche traditional winter dishes in the town's eateries

Open to all and free to enter, the Saint Anthony's Fair attracts thousands of people each year, including residents, visitors from neighboring towns, and families, confirming itself as one of the most beloved identity events in Chiaravalle and the entire Vallesina area.