Saint Maria Goretti Festival (Patron Saint of Latina and the Agro Pontino)
Nine days of faith, culture, and popular tradition in the heart of Latina
About Saint Maria Goretti Festival
A festival that defines the city's identity
Latina is a young city, established in the 1930s following the reclamation of the Agro Pontino, and it has built its identity around a few founding figures. The most beloved is undoubtedly Saint Maria Goretti, the girl from Corinaldo who met her end at Le Ferriere, not far from here, and was canonized by Pope Pius XII in 1950. Just two years later, in 1952, she was proclaimed the celestial patron of the city of Latina and the Agro Pontino, alongside Saint Mark the Evangelist. Since then, the July 6th festival has been the most deeply felt civil and religious event in the Pontine capital.
Nine days of spirituality and culture
The program, curated by the Saint Maria Goretti Parish led by Father Paolo Spaviero, goes beyond liturgical celebrations. Each year, the community chooses a central theme and explores it through a week of events open to everyone, believers and non-believers alike: conferences, catechesis, presentations, and symphonic concerts. It is a formula that successfully bridges popular devotion with serious reflection on contemporary issues, from gender-based violence to the ethics of new technologies.
The atmosphere remains that of a neighborhood festival: on the evenings of the triduum, from July 3rd to 5th, food stalls open around the church, recreational activities begin, and Viale XVIII Dicembre fills with families. It is the moment when the spiritual and the social dimensions naturally converge, as is the case in every respectable Italian patronal feast.
July 6th: The Mass and the Procession
The highlight arrives on the evening of July 6th. At 8:30 PM, the Bishop of Latina-Terracina-Sezze-Priverno, Monsignor Mariano Crociata, presides over the solemn outdoor celebration on the church square, before a crowd that fills the space every year. Afterward, the procession with the patron saint's statue begins, accompanied by the Latina "G. Rossini" Band.
The route is traditional and well-known to residents: Viale XVIII Dicembre, Via Carturan, Piazzale Carturan, Via Milazzo, Via Giulio Cesare, Via Corridoni, and back to Viale XVIII Dicembre. Each year, the parish invites residents to decorate their balconies and streets along the route, resulting in one of the most photographed moments of the Pontine summer. The evening concludes with a final concert by the band.
A devotion that extends beyond Latina
The festival is not limited to the capital. On the same day, in Le Ferriere and Borgo Montello, a solemn Mass is held, followed by a procession to the Casa del Martirio (House of Martyrdom), the place where Maria Goretti died in 1902. Here, the devotion takes on even more intense forms, with the presentation of Living Tableaux. Many faithful make the pilgrimage to the sanctuary on foot, a tradition renewed for decades.
What to expect
- Symphonic concerts and musical evenings during the first days of the program
- Cultural meetings with nationally renowned speakers, usually at 9:00 PM
- Solemn Triduum with evening liturgies and the opening of food stalls
- Pontifical Mass celebrated by the Bishop on the church square, July 6th at 8:30 PM
- City procession with the statue and the "G. Rossini" Band
In the context of Lazio
Within the landscape of patronal festivals in Lazio, the Saint Maria Goretti festival holds a unique place. It may not have the centuries of history behind it that characterize the palii and village festivals of the region, but for that very reason, it tells a different story: how a community born just over ninety years ago has managed to establish shared roots and rituals. Those visiting the province of Latina during these days will find a vibrant city, and just a few kilometers away, the sea of Latina Lido, the reclamation villages, and the Circeo National Park.
Saint Maria Goretti Festival — edition 2026
The theme: "Educating for a disarmed and disarming peace"
The Saint Maria Goretti Parish, led by Father Paolo Spaviero, chose a quote from Pope Leo XIV for 2026 as the central theme for the entire week. The result was a program that alternated moments of deep spirituality with very concrete reflections on current events, from gender-based violence to the ethics of new technologies.
The triduum and the festival
From July 3rd, the triduum in honor of the patron saint entered its peak, accompanied by the opening of food stalls and recreational moments around the church. Among the most anticipated events was the blessing of the new artistic stained-glass windows dedicated to the life of Saint Maria Goretti. On July 6th, at 8:30 PM, Bishop Mariano Crociata presided over the solemn celebration on the church square, followed by the procession with the saint's statue accompanied by the "G. Rossini" Band of Latina.
Programme Saint Maria Goretti Festival 2026
Sunday, June 28th
7:45 PM — "Summer Symphonies" concert by the I Filarmonici Pontini Orchestra.
Monday, June 29th
9:00 PM (parish theater) — Meeting on gender-based violence with clinical psychologist and criminologist Gabriella Marano.
Tuesday, June 30th
9:00 PM (church) — Catechesis by Father Luigi Maria Epicoco: "The Gospel according to Saint Maria Goretti."
Wednesday, July 1st
9:00 PM (parish theater) — "Blessed are the artisans of peace," meeting with Flavio Lotti, president of the PerugiAssisi Foundation for the Culture of Peace.
Thursday, July 2nd
9:00 PM (parish theater) — Presentation of the papal encyclical on ethics and artificial intelligence, by Father Andrea Pizzichini.
Friday, July 3rd to Sunday, July 5th
Solemn triduum in honor of the patron saint: evening and morning liturgical celebrations, blessing of the new artistic stained-glass windows, opening of food stalls and recreational activities.
Monday, July 6th — Patron Saint's Day
8:30 PM — Solemn Eucharistic celebration on the church square, presided over by Monsignor Mariano Crociata, Bishop of Latina-Terracina-Sezze-Priverno.
Followed by — Procession with the statue of Saint Maria Goretti accompanied by the Latina "G. Rossini" Band, along Viale XVIII Dicembre, Via Carturan, Piazzale Carturan, Via Milazzo, Via Giulio Cesare, Via Corridoni, and back to Viale XVIII Dicembre. The evening concluded with a final concert by the band.
On the same day, parallel celebrations in Le Ferriere and Borgo Montello, with a procession to the House of Martyrdom.
Highlights Saint Maria Goretti Festival 2026
- Inaugural concert "Summer Symphonies" by the I Filarmonici Pontini Orchestra
- Catechesis by Father Luigi Maria Epicoco, one of the most followed voices in the Italian Church
- Meeting with Flavio Lotti of the PerugiAssisi Foundation for the Culture of Peace
- Blessing of the new artistic stained-glass windows dedicated to the life of Saint Maria Goretti
- Solemn Mass by Bishop Mariano Crociata on the church square, July 6th at 8:30 PM
- Evening procession with the patron saint's statue and the "G. Rossini" Band
Prices Saint Maria Goretti Festival 2026
Practical information — Saint Maria Goretti Festival
Location
Celebrations are centered at the Saint Maria Goretti Parish, on Viale XVIII Dicembre in Latina (04100), and the surrounding streets along the procession route. Additional celebrations take place in Le Ferriere and Borgo Montello at the House of Martyrdom.
How to get there
By car: Take the Latina exit from the SS148 Pontina, then follow signs for the center. By train: Latina Scalo station on the Rome-Naples line via Formia, connected to the center by local buses. From Rome: About an hour by car.
Costs
All religious and cultural events are free to attend. Only food and drinks at the stalls are for purchase.
Tips
On the evening of July 6th, the streets along the procession route are closed to traffic; it is advisable to arrive early and park away from the center. The weather in early July is hot and humid, but celebrations are held in the evening.
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Noticed an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every proposal is verified by our team before publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Where does it take place — Saint Maria Goretti Festival
Parrocchia di Santa Maria Goretti
Viale XVIII Dicembre, 04100 Latina