Saint John the Baptist Patronal Festival

The patronal festival of Spigno Saturnia

The Saint John the Baptist Patronal Festival is the quintessential identity-defining event for Spigno Saturnia, a small town in the southern Pontine area in the province of Latina, in southern Lazio. Every year, for the solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist, which the liturgical calendar sets for June 24th, the town dedicates several days of festivities to its protector, combining religious and civil dimensions in a format consolidated over generations.

The religious heart: solemn mass and procession

The central moment of the festival is the solemn Eucharistic celebration on June 24th at the Church of Saint John the Baptist, overlooking Piazza Dante Alighieri, within the territory of the Archdiocese of Gaeta. The mass is traditionally presided over by the archbishop—in 2025 by Monsignor Luigi Vari—and is followed by a procession carrying the statue of the saint through the streets of the town, accompanied by the faithful and a brass band. In the days leading up to the solemnity, the triduum of preparation marks the life of the parish with rosaries, masses, and moments dedicated to the sick and families, such as the celebration for the renewal of marriage vows.

The civil festival: brass bands, folklore, and games in the square

Alongside the religious program, the festival committee and local associations enliven the town with the classic appointments of a lower Lazio patronal festival:

• the brass band parade through the town center on the morning of June 24th, often featuring ensembles like the "Città di Castelforte" band;
• afternoons of games for children and teenagers in Piazza Dante, in the spirit of "playing together" that involves families;
• performances by folkloric groups like "Le Contrade," which revive songs and dances of the Aurunca tradition;
• evenings of music and entertainment in the square, open to everyone;
• the traditional Saint John's Lottery with the drawing of winning tickets to close the festival.

The zeppola spignese, queen of the table

No festival in Spigno Saturnia is complete without the zeppola spignese, the town's fried specialty, now recognized as a De.Co. (municipal designation) product. During the patronal festivities, the zeppola food stand is one of the most popular spots: an authentic taste of local confectionery tradition, which the village also celebrates in autumn with the historic Chestnut and Zeppola Spignese Festival.

A village between the Aurunci Mountains and the Gulf of Gaeta

Spigno Saturnia rises on the slopes of the Aurunci Mountains, just a few kilometers from the sea of Minturno, Scauri, and Formia. The town is divided between the historic core of Spigno Vecchio, perched on the heights, and the more recent settlement in the valley: the patronal festival is the ideal opportunity to discover this authentic corner of southern Lazio, far from the most beaten tourist circuits, where hospitality is still the genuine kind found in small towns. The Municipality of Spigno Saturnia publishes the official program of the festivities every year on its institutional website and local channels.