Saint Mark the Evangelist Patronal Festival

The patronal festival of Torricella Sicura

The Saint Mark the Evangelist Patronal Festival is the most anticipated event in the calendar of Torricella Sicura, a village in the Province of Teramo, nestled at the foot of the Laga Mountains in Abruzzo. Every year, around April 25th—the liturgical day dedicated to Mark the Evangelist—the community gathers around its protector in a celebration that weaves together religious devotion, folk traditions, and village festivities. The parish of Saint Mark the Evangelist, along with its organizing committee and the support of the municipal administration, coordinates three days of events that involve the entire village and its surrounding hamlets.

The Four Winds Procession

The most distinctive and ancient moment of the festival is the Four Winds procession. The statue of Saint Mark is carried in a procession to the four cardinal points of the village—the so-called "winds"—where rogations are recited, prayers for a bountiful harvest, followed by the blessing of the countryside, the town, and the nearby sea. Once a strictly penitential rite, with some faithful participating barefoot, the event has evolved into a choral celebration: entire families and neighborhood representatives march with their own banners, shirts, and scarves, in a vibrant display of color that keeps this ancient rural tradition alive.

Three days of faith and conviviality

The program balances liturgical moments with social and entertainment events. Eucharistic celebrations in Piazza Castello and the village churches are accompanied by the ritual of handing over the town keys to the patron saint, in the presence of civil and military authorities. The Saint Mark banquets, hosted by the local neighborhoods, animate the evenings with street bands, DJ sets, and live concerts. A marching band accompanies the processions, while festive lights, a funfair, and market stalls complete the atmosphere.

A village in the Laga Mountains

Torricella Sicura is a small, scattered municipality in the Teramo hills, serving as a gateway for excursions toward the Gran Sasso and Laga Mountains National Park. For the locals—and those who return to the village for the occasion—the Saint Mark Festival represents a deep connection to their roots, an opportunity to rediscover community, spirituality, and traditional Abruzzese cuisine. It is a free-entry event, perfect for those looking to experience an authentic patronal festival in the Teramo hinterland.