Saint Lawrence Martyr Festival

The patronal feast of Colle di Tora

In the heart of summer, the small village of Colle di Tora, overlooking the waters of Lake Turano in the province of Rieti, gathers to honor its patron saint, Saint Lawrence the Martyr. The festival, also dedicated to Saint Anthony, traditionally takes place during the first ten days of August and represents the most cherished event of the year for the local community—a time when faith, tradition, and conviviality intertwine along the lakefront.

Four days between the sacred and the profane

The program alternates religious moments—the Holy Rosary, Masses in the Church of Saint Lawrence, and the solemn procession—with a rich calendar of events. Every evening from 8:00 PM, food stalls serve traditional dishes from the Rieti region, while the village squares come alive with concerts, comedy shows, and dance nights. There are also plenty of activities for children, including themed games and family-friendly performances.

The Lantern Festival

The most poetic and distinctive element of the celebration is the Lantern Festival, part of the multi-year municipal project "Biography of a Territory – The Mirror and the Moon." At dusk, participants set floating lanterns adrift on the waters of the Turano, each dedicated to a loved one: a collective ritual of memory and light that transforms the lake into a mirror of tiny flames, creating a suspended and moving atmosphere.

Music, shows, and traditional games

Throughout the evenings, local bands and artists, polyphonic choirs, and tribute groups perform, accompanied by dialect theater and cabaret nights. Significant space is dedicated to traditional games and activities for children and teenagers, often built around a theme that changes each year. Theater, music, and dance workshops complete a program designed to engage all ages.

The fireworks display on the lake

The highlight arrives around August 10th, the feast day of Saint Lawrence: after the solemn procession accompanied by the marching band, the festival concludes with a grand fireworks display over the waters of Lake Turano. The fireworks, reflected on the water's surface, offer one of the most evocative scenes of the Rieti summer, drawing visitors from all the villages in the valley.

A lakeside village in the heart of Lazio

Colle di Tora is one of the most characteristic villages in the Province of Rieti, in the Lazio region, nestled on a promontory that juts into Lake Turano. The Saint Lawrence Festival is the perfect opportunity to discover this corner of the Sabina area, amidst nature, lake excursions, and genuine hospitality.