Saint George Patronal Feast

The summer feast of the patron saint of Vico nel Lazio

The Saint George Patronal Feast is the most anticipated event of the summer in Vico nel Lazio, a medieval village in the province of Frosinone perched at an altitude of 721 meters on the slopes of the Ernici Mountains. Every year, on the last Sunday of July, the town pays homage to its protector, Saint George the Martyr, with a festival that blends religious celebrations, music, sports, and gastronomy. It is organized by the Confraternity of Saint George the Martyr, an association that preserves the cult of the saint and oversees both the liturgical feast on April 23rd and the summer celebrations.

A medieval village as a backdrop

The festival takes place in a setting of rare charm: Vico nel Lazio, listed among the most beautiful villages in the Lazio region, preserves an 11th-century defensive wall with towers and three access gates—Porta Orticelli, Porta Guarcino, and Porta a Monte—as well as the Collegiate Church of Saint Michael the Archangel and the Romanesque church of Saint Mary. The streets of the historic center, decorated with lights, and Piazza XXIV Maggio, the heart of the civil festivities, fill with locals, emigrants returning for the occasion, and visitors from the Ciociaria and Rome.

The procession with the equestrian statue

The highlight of the festival is the procession with the equestrian statue of Saint George, which depicts the saintly knight in the act of slaying the dragon. The statue travels through the streets of the village accompanied by all the confraternities of Vico with their banners, the faithful, and the Vico nel Lazio brass band, which alternates between marches and moments of prayer. As the procession returns, the sky above the medieval walls lights up with a fireworks display, one of the most awaited events of the Ernici summer.

Three days of celebration between faith and conviviality

The festivities traditionally span several days, preceded by a religious triduum of preparation. The weekend kicks off with food stalls in Piazza XXIV Maggio, where visitors can enjoy traditional Ciociarian dishes, alongside live music evenings. In recent editions, Saturday has been dedicated to sports with the Saint George Marathon Race, while Sunday begins at dawn with the firing of aerial bombs and the band parading through the town. In the morning, vintage cars are displayed in Piazzale San Giorgio, followed by a solemn Mass, presided over in past years by the bishop of the Anagni-Alatri diocese with the parish choir.

Saint George and the two feasts of Vico

The bond between Vico nel Lazio and Saint George, a 3rd-century martyr venerated throughout Europe, is twofold: on April 23rd, the village celebrates the liturgical feast with Mass, an evening procession, and a traditional bonfire, while the end of July marks the great summer festival, designed also for those returning home for the holidays. This double recurrence perfectly captures the identity of a mountain village that thrives on traditions passed down from generation to generation.

In the heart of the Ciociaria

The festival is supported by the community and the Municipality of Vico nel Lazio and is part of the town's summer calendar, which offers various festivals and shows within the village walls between July and August. For the Lazio Region and the province of Frosinone, it is one of the most authentic patronal feasts in the Ernici Mountains: an opportunity to discover the true Ciociaria, including the Trisulti Charterhouse, the Collepardo caves, and the villages of Alatri and Fumone, just over an hour from Rome.