Saint John the Baptist Celebrations – Procession

The patronal feast of Ovada

The Saint John the Baptist Celebrations are the heart of the religious and popular tradition of Ovada, a town in the upper Monferrato area of the province of Alessandria (Piedmont). Every year, around June 24th, the day dedicated to the patron saint, the community gathers for a celebration that weaves faith, art, and folklore with rare intensity, drawing massive crowds to the historic center.

The Confraternity of the "Reds"

The organizational heart of the festival is the Venerable Confraternity of the Most Holy Trinity and Saint John the Baptist, also known as the "reds" due to the color of their processional capes. Its origins date back to the late 1400s, and the Confraternity is centered in the Oratory of Saint John, a treasure trove of artworks and devotion handed down through the centuries.

The Cassa del Maragliano

The absolute symbol of the festivities is the Cassa of Saint John, a processional sculptural group by Anton Maria Maragliano, one of the greatest masters of the Ligurian-Genoese Baroque. The large Cassa depicts the Beheading of Saint John the Baptist, weighs about sixteen quintals, and was purchased in 1826, immediately becoming the emblem of the Confraternity. Beside it parades a second, lighter Cassa dedicated to the Baptism of Christ, attributed to Domenico Bissoni.

The June 24th Procession

The procession winds through the streets of the historic center following a centuries-old route: originally short and confined within the walls, it was extended in the 17th century to cross the new districts, a path still respected today. The bearers, in red tunics with crosses, immediately face the challenge of the Oratory's steep staircase while carrying the heavy Cassa, followed by numerous large, ancient processional crucifixes—some weighing over a quintal—carried in perfect balance thanks to special harnesses.

The Eve Bonfire and Cultural Events

On the evening of June 23rd, the eve of the Saint's day, the great bonfire of Saint John is lit in Piazza Assunta, a pagan-origin ritual linked to the summer solstice that in Ovada blends the sacred and the profane in an evocative atmosphere. The procession is surrounded by a wider program of conferences on the history of the Cassa, a photographic exhibition at the Loggia di San Sebastiano, and concerts that enliven the patronal week.