Saint Felix the Martyr Festival

A festival born from a legend

The Saint Felix the Martyr Festival is the most heartfelt devotional event in Poggio Bustone, a small town in the Province of Rieti, in the Lazio region, nestled at about 756 meters above sea level on the southern slopes of the Reatini Mountains. Local tradition tells that the Saint's body arrived here on an ox-drawn cart that spontaneously stopped in front of the ancient castrum of Poggio Bustone: since then, the community has considered Saint Felix its own protector, keeping his relics under the high altar of the parish church of Saint John the Baptist, which also houses a 15th-century fresco depicting Saint Francis receiving the stigmata.

When it is celebrated

The recurrence traditionally falls on the first Sunday of September, when summer draws to a close and the village reunites with its emigrants and families returning for the holidays. In June 2026, Mayor Rovero Mostarda publicly announced the administration's intention to relaunch the town's identity-defining festivals, starting with the Saint John the Baptist celebration on June 24th and the historic September festival of Saint Felix, bringing the work of the Festivities Committee back to the square.

How it takes place

The heart of the day remains religious: solemn mass, veneration of the relics, and a procession that winds through the stone alleys of the historic center, amidst arches, medieval portals, and panoramic views over the Rieti plain. The devotion to Saint Felix, moreover, historically links Poggio Bustone to the nearby sanctuary of San Felice all'Acqua, in the territory of Cantalice, a destination for walks and pilgrimages traversing the Holy Valley.

The liturgical part is accompanied by civil festivities, which follow a consolidated format in Poggio Bustone:

• Evenings in the square with live music and entertainment for all ages
• Food stalls managed by the Festivities Committee
• Tasting of Poggio Bustone porchetta, oven-baked according to the local recipe, a true identity symbol of the town
• Moments of sociality and gathering for the community and those returning to the village

The context: the Franciscan Holy Valley

Those arriving for the festival find much more than a patronal feast. Poggio Bustone is one of the four sanctuaries of the Rieti Holy Valley: here, according to tradition, Saint Francis greeted the inhabitants with the famous "Good morning, good people" and received the forgiveness of his sins. The Sanctuary of Saint James and the Sacro Speco above it, reachable via a walk through the woods, remain open to visitors even during the festival days, making the trip a complete experience of spirituality and nature.

The town is also linked to the memory of Lucio Battisti, who was born here, and hosts other popular events throughout the year, from the Porchetta Festival at the end of September to the Passion of Christ in the spring.

Who it is for

The Saint Felix the Martyr Festival is primarily intended for the Poggio Bustone community, but it is open to everyone: pilgrims of the Way of Saint Francis, hikers of the Reatini Mountains, and curious travelers looking for an authentic village festival, far from mass tourism circuits. Entry to the festival areas and the procession is free; you only pay for what you consume at the stalls.