Saint Blaise Festival

Saint Blaise in Cittiglio

The Festa di San Biagio is one of the most heartfelt events in Cittiglio, a municipality in Verbano in the province of Varese, dedicated to the patron saint of the throat. The festival revolves around the church of San Biagio, a jewel of Lombard Romanesque with precious frescoes, in a panoramic position near Lake Maggiore.

An awaited reopening

The 2026 edition is particularly significant: it marks the reopening of the church after seven years of closure for archaeological excavations and restoration work. For the community of Cittiglio, it is a moment of great emotion, which returns to the faithful and visitors one of the most beloved and historically rich places in the area.

Rites, bonfires, and blessed bread

The heart of the festival is the celebration on February 3rd: the evening Holy Mass, during which the rite of the blessing of the throat takes place, followed by the distribution of blessed bread, panettone and mulled wine, and the evocative bonfire in the churchyard. In the following days, a guided tour of the restored church is scheduled. An event that combines devotion, popular tradition, and enhancement of heritage, in the heart of the province of Varese.