Saint Apollonia Patronal Feast

A devotion spanning over four centuries

The Saint Apollonia Patronal Feast is the most cherished event in the Ariccia calendar. The bond between Ariccia and its patron saint dates back to 1622: on February 9th of that year, while Holy Mass was being celebrated in the then-Collegiate Church, a violent storm struck the town, and lightning set fire to the roof of the building, which was packed with worshippers. Despite the flames, no one present was harmed; from that miracle, the devotion that still inspires the community of the Municipality of Ariccia, in the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Lazio, was born.

Saint Apollonia, martyr and protector

Saint Apollonia, a Christian virgin and martyr, is depicted in the wooden statue holding a pair of pincers. Tradition holds that during her martyrdom, her teeth were extracted with pincers to force her to renounce her faith: for this reason, she is invoked as the protector against toothaches. Her image is the focal point of the festivities, carried in procession as a true "Saint Apollonia Machine".

Key moments of the festival

• The Procession: The patron saint's statue leaves the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Assunta in Cielo and travels through the historic center, carried on the shoulders of the Knights of Saint Apollonia.
• The Eucharistic Celebration: The solemn Holy Mass in the parish church, the spiritual highlight of the feast.
• The Focaraccio (Bonfire): A large bonfire of reed bundles is lit in Piazza di Corte in memory of the Saint's martyrdom, followed by a fireworks display that illuminates the town center.
• The Cannacce: At the end of the festivities, the community gathers around the festival's signature dish, cannacce—a long pasta served with sausage sauce—distributed alongside wine and traditional sweets.

Ariccia and the Castelli Romani

Nestled in the Alban Hills just a few kilometers from Rome, Ariccia is famous for its Baroque center designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, its monumental bridge, and the culinary tradition of porchetta. The Saint Apollonia Feast offers the perfect opportunity to discover the town in its most authentic light, when popular faith, history, and conviviality intertwine in the squares and alleys of the village. A free event open to all, it captures the deep identity of a Castelli Romani community in just two days.