Saint Barbatus Feast and Stracicciano - Saint Barbatus Palio

The Patron Saint Festival of Cicciano

Every year, between late February and early March, the town of Cicciano, in the heart of the Nola area near Naples, celebrates its patron saint with the Saint Barbatus Feast. It is the community's most anticipated event, a moment when the entire town reaffirms its identity and devotion to the bishop traditionally linked to the history of the Lombards of Benevento.

Who was Saint Barbatus

Born in Castelvenere near Benevento around 602 AD, Saint Barbatus is remembered as the bishop who converted the Lombard Duke Romuald and his people, who were still tied to ancient pagan practices. The legend of him cutting down the sacred walnut tree of the Benevento witches and liberating the people from pagan rites made him a highly popular figure in Southern Italy. In Cicciano, his cult has been vibrant for centuries, and his liturgical feast day on February 19th marks the beginning of the city's annual celebrations.

The Religious Program

The spiritual heart of the festival is the Solemn High Mass, a moment of reflection involving the parishes and faithful of Cicciano. The celebrations, organized in collaboration with the Diocese of Nola, bring the community together around the image of the patron saint, featuring hymns, prayers, and the participation of local confraternities and associations.

The Stracicciano - Saint Barbatus Palio

The most dynamic and popular aspect of the festival is the Stracicciano - Saint Barbatus Palio, a roughly 10-kilometer road race organized by ASD Cicciano Running and included in the Fidal Campania regional calendar. The course runs entirely through the town, offering a fast and smooth route that winds through the city center and neighborhoods, transforming the patronal feast into a major sporting day open to athletes from across the region.

• Over a thousand runners at the start from dozens of Campanian clubs
• A track designed through both the historic center and the newer parts of town
• Musical entertainment, drummers in period costumes, and post-race refreshments

Tradition and Community

Surrounding the two main events, the Pro Loco San Barbato Cicciano and the municipal administration bring the town to life with initiatives for families and children, including themed games, re-enactments with armored knights, and public celebrations that renew the bond between the community and its history. The Saint Barbatus Feast thus remains a successful example in Campania of how popular devotion, memory, and sport can coexist in a single celebration.