Saint Bartholomew the Apostle Festival in Sepicciano

The patronal feast of the village of Sepicciano

Every year in September, the hamlet of Sepicciano—a small village in the municipality of Piedimonte Matese, in the province of Caserta, in the heart of the Matese Campania region—celebrates its patron saint, Saint Bartholomew the Apostle. For a few days, village life moves outdoors to Piazza Alcide De Gasperi, the square in front of the municipal stadium, which serves as a churchyard, dining hall, and stage all at once.

It is a village festival in the most authentic sense of the term: it is born from the parish and the festival committee, thrives on the voluntary work of the inhabitants, and welcomes the entire valley community, not just the residents of the hamlet.

An ancient village at the foot of the Matese

Sepicciano has been documented as a hamlet since the 10th century and later fell under the influence of Piedimonte when the barony extended its jurisdiction over neighboring settlements during the Norman era. Today, it is a primarily residential area, but it preserves its late-Baroque church dedicated to Saint Bartholomew, which houses an 18th-century wooden statue of the saint: this is the image carried in procession during the festivities.

Faith and tradition

The religious aspect follows the classic pattern of Southern patronal feasts: the preparatory novena, the masses on the solemn day, and, in the late afternoon, the procession with the statue of Saint Bartholomew through the village streets, accompanied by the priests of the pastoral unit of Piedimonte Matese (Diocese of Alife-Caiazzo). The parish priest, Father Emilio Meola, notes that celebrating the Apostle means striving to imitate his witness within the community through daily charity toward one's neighbors.

Evenings in the square

Alongside the religious rites, the committee organizes secular evenings: free admission live music, shows, children's games, and food stalls. In recent years, the lineup has alternated between emerging bands and popular tribute acts—in 2025, the stage hosted Patagarri, Pianeta Zero, and Jovaband—while for 2026, the committee has announced a major guest of the Italian music scene, Michele Zarrillo, expected in the square on Saturday, September 12, for a free concert.

Dining on Matese cuisine

Gastronomy is an essential part of the festival. Community dinners set up in the square, served on long tables, offer local traditional dishes such as genovese and paparulo mbuttito (stuffed peppers), along with typical local products. In 2025, the opening dinner brought together about four hundred people in Piazza De Gasperi at a symbolic price of five euros per person.

A renovated square for the festival

In July 2026, the Municipality of Piedimonte Matese began redevelopment work on Piazza De Gasperi in preparation for the festivities: removing the central sidewalk to gain side space, maintaining free parking on the stadium side, and planting linden trees along both sides of the square. As the mayor explained, this intervention aims to bring more decorum to the hamlet.

Why visit

Visitors from outside will find a patronal festival that remains genuine, free, and familiar, just minutes from the historic center of Piedimonte Matese and the trails of the Matese massif. It is also a great way to discover the upper Terra di Lavoro, an inland Campania made of villages, pastures, and rustic cuisine, very different from the coastal image usually associated with the region.