Saint Antoninus Festival

The patronal feast of Travo

The Saint Antoninus Festival is the patronal feast of Travo, a small municipality in the Trebbia Valley, in the province of Piacenza (Emilia-Romagna). Every year, between the end of June and the first days of July, the town gathers around its patron protector, Saint Antoninus the Martyr, with several days of celebration that intertwine the religious and popular dimensions.

The event takes place in the Pro Loco festival area, set up on the banks of the Trebbia river near the sports field. It is here that, evening after evening, the lights of the food stands and the dance floor are lit, in a setting of great tradition that attracts locals and visitors from the surrounding valleys.

Music, ballroom dancing, and Piacenza cuisine

The convivial heart of the festival is the Pro Loco's cuisine, which offers typical dishes from the Piacenza tradition and the Trebbia Valley, served in the food stands under the marquees. The evenings are enlivened by ballroom dancing orchestras, with live music and dances that have always been part of the identity of Emilia's village festivals.

The atmosphere is that of authentic Apennine festivals: outdoor tables, the aroma of home cooking, folk music, and the desire to gather as a community on warm summer evenings along the Trebbia.

The procession and the blessing of the Trebbia river waters

The most solemn and iconic moment of the festival is the religious procession on Sunday, with the celebration of Holy Mass and the procession reaching the riverbanks for the blessing of the Trebbia river waters. This rite is rooted in the legend of Saint Antoninus, who according to tradition was martyred in Travo and whose body was thrown into the stream's waters.

The festival is organized by the Pro Loco of Travo, in collaboration with the parish of Saint Antoninus the Martyr, and represents one of the most cherished events of the Travo summer.

A village to discover

Participating in the Saint Antoninus Festival is also an opportunity to discover Travo, a village with an ancient charm nestled in the Trebbia Valley, with its historic center, Anguissola Castle, and the archaeological area that testifies to a settlement of very ancient origins. The province of Piacenza and the entire Emilia-Romagna region offer one of their most evocative corners here, between the river, hills, and tradition.