Saint Esuperanzio Festival (winter feast of the patron saint)

The winter feast of Cingoli's patron saint

On January 24th, the Municipality of Cingoli, in the province of Macerata, in the Marches, honors its patron saint with the winter festival of Saint Esuperanzio. Unlike the summer festival in July, this occasion commemorates a specific date dear to the community: the discovery of the saint's relics, which occurred on January 24th, 1495. It is one of the most heartfelt days in the city's calendar, so much so that in Cingoli, it is traditional for schools to close in honor of the patron saint.

Who was Saint Esuperanzio

According to tradition, Esuperanzio was a bishop of African origin who lived in the 5th century. After preaching the Gospel in North Africa, he crossed the sea and landed at Numana, near Ancona; going to Rome, he was consecrated bishop by the pope and sent to lead the diocese of Cingoli, where he remained for fifteen years, performing numerous miracles. The cult of the saint in the town is very ancient, as evidenced by the municipal statutes of 1307 and 1325. Esuperanzio is the patron and protector not only of Cingoli but also of the municipality of Montefelcino.

The Collegiate Church and the crypt of the relics

The heart of the festival is the Collegiate Church of Saint Esuperanzio, elevated to the rank of Insigne Collegiate Church by Pope Clement XIII with a papal bull in 1764. The saint's relics, discovered in 1495, are kept in a simulacrum within an urn placed in the crypt beneath the high altar, built between 1755 and 1777. The church, a jewel of Cingoli's art, preserves valuable works and is a place of devotion throughout the year.

The day's program

On the morning of January 24th, two solemn masses are celebrated in the Collegiate Church, at 10:00 AM and 11:30 AM, in honor of the patron saint. In the afternoon, after the last religious service, the Esuperanziana Association offers the faithful and visitors a convivial moment under the temple's loggia, with traditional Carnival sweets and mulled wine, a gesture of welcome that warms the cold winter day.

Cultural events at the Farnese Theater

The religious dimension is complemented by a cultural one, hosted at the Farnese Cinema-Theater in Cingoli. Tradition dictates, around the patron saint's day, a concert by the town band and a performance of dialect theater featuring the Marche dialect, moments when the community comes together around its identity. Over the years, the Villa Strada Band, conducted by Maestro Luca Pernici, and the Avenale Theater Company with its vernacular comedies have performed.

An opportunity to discover the village

The winter festival is also the ideal opportunity to visit the historic center of Cingoli, nicknamed the "Balcony of the Marches" for the wide panorama that, from its 631 meters above sea level, stretches to the Adriatic Sea. Medieval alleys, noble palaces, churches, and the quiet atmosphere of the winter season make this day an authentic event, far from mass tourism and immersed in the traditions of the Macerata area.