Saint Antoninus Abbot Festival

A community celebration in the heart of the Picentini Mountains

February 14th is the day that brings Campagna, in the province of Salerno, together to celebrate its patron saint, Saint Antoninus Abbot. This is far more than a liturgical date: the Archdiocese of Salerno-Campagna-Acerno notes that the saint's cult is so deeply rooted in local families of all backgrounds that it transforms the day into a true community festival. The historic center, wedged between the slopes of the Picentini Mountains and crossed by the Tenza river, experiences one of the most heartfelt days on the city's calendar.

Saint Antoninus Abbot, Campagna's most illustrious son

According to local tradition, the saint was born in Campagna around 555-556 in the San Silvestro district, baptized with the name Domenico Lorenzo. Orphaned as a child, he was raised by Benedictine monks and took the name Antoninus. Following the Lombard sack of the Montecassino Abbey, he lived for a long time as a hermit, taking refuge in a cave on Monte Aureo (modern-day Faito) alongside Saint Catellus, with whom—legend says—he built an oratory dedicated to the Archangel Michael. Around 608, he became abbot of the monastery of Sant'Agrippino in Sorrento, where he died on February 14, 625. Today, he is the patron saint of Campagna and co-patron of the Archdiocese of Salerno-Campagna-Acerno.

The thaumaturgic column and the medieval roots of the festival

The devotional heart of the Campagna festival is the thaumaturgic column kept in the city: tradition holds that the saint was tied to it and scourged by the devil. The relic was moved to Campagna from the church of Zappino on December 13, 1253, and it was from that moment that the feast took on an official character, later fixed annually on February 14th, the day of the saint's pious passing. This continuity of nearly eight centuries makes the patronal feast one of the oldest traditions in the region.

February 14th: Solemn liturgy and city life

The highlight of the day is the solemn Eucharistic celebration in the Co-cathedral of Campagna, presided over by the Archbishop of Salerno-Campagna-Acerno. In some years, the morning also includes the installation of new canons of the Chapter, attended by the clergy and deacons of the Archdiocese. Alongside the religious events, the Municipality of Campagna accompanies the occasion with civic and cultural moments that bring the squares and alleys of the old town to life.

• Liturgical celebrations in the Co-cathedral and churches of the historic center
• Devotion to the thaumaturgic column and visits to the city's Antonine sites
• Civic and cultural events promoted by the municipal administration
• Participation of confraternities, parishes, and local associations

Campagna and Sorrento: A fourteen-century bond

Saint Antoninus unites two cities in Campania located at opposite ends of the region: Campagna, where he was born, and Sorrento, where he died and is buried. In early February 2025, marking the 1400th anniversary of the saint's passing, the mayors of Sorrento, Massimo Coppola, and Campagna, Biagio Luongo, signed a twinning pact in the name of Saint Antoninus Abbot, aiming to develop religious tourism itineraries, pilgrimage routes, and shared cultural initiatives between the two communities. For those visiting the Sorrento Peninsula, discovering Campagna means tracing the origins of a cult that has spanned fourteen centuries in Campania.

Campagna, a city of water, stone, and memory

The village stretches along a narrow valley in the Picentini Mountains, with noble palaces, churches, and convents that testify to its past as an episcopal seat. Campagna is also known as the "City of Memory" due to the internment camp active during the Second World War, which is now a place of reflection and educational paths. Visiting on February 14th allows you to combine the patronal festival with the discovery of a historic center with a secluded charm, far from the region's most beaten tourist paths.

How to experience the festival

The Saint Antoninus Festival is, first and foremost, a community event. Visitors from outside are welcomed naturally, but it is worth remembering that the tone remains one of popular devotion rather than spectacle. It is best to arrive in the morning for the celebrations in the Co-cathedral and dedicate the afternoon to visiting the churches in the center. The detailed program for each edition is released in the weeks leading up to the event by the Municipality of Campagna and local parishes.