Saint Martin's Feast

The Saint Martin's Feast in Fara San Martino

The Saint Martin's Feast is the patronal festival of Fara San Martino, a small village in the Municipality of Fara San Martino nestled at the foot of the Majella mountains, in the province of Chieti, in the heart of Abruzzo. Every year, on the evening of November 11th, the town celebrates its patron saint with an evening that weaves together religious devotion, folk tradition, and the typical flavors of the Apennine autumn.

The evening program

The festival begins with mass in honor of Saint Martin at the local church. Once the service concludes, locals and visitors gather in Largo Piano dei Santi, the starting point for the procession that winds through the historic center to Piazza Municipio. Here, the evening continues in a festive and convivial atmosphere, with tastings and music enlivening the square until late at night.

The flavors of the Abruzzese autumn

At the heart of the festival are the tastings provided by the Pro Loco of Fara San Martino, showcasing typical seasonal products:

• Polenta, served hot, the iconic dish of autumn mountain evenings;
• Roasted chestnuts, the stars of the Saint Martin tradition;
• New wine, in keeping with the ancient saying "by Saint Martin, all must becomes wine";
• Mulled wine, to warm up during the cold Apennine nights.

The evening is accompanied by traditional Abruzzese music, evoking the folk songs and dances of the region.

Fara San Martino, the village of pasta and the Majella

Located at the entrance to the striking Gole di San Martino (Saint Martin's Gorges) along the Verde River, Fara San Martino is known as one of Italy's "pasta villages," home to historic pasta factories. The territory is part of the Majella National Park and houses the remains of the Monastery of San Martino in Valle, a fascinating site hidden among the rocks. The patronal feast, dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours — the saint who, according to tradition, gave half of his cloak to a beggar — is an opportunity to rediscover the identity and spirituality of this authentic corner of Abruzzo.

The event is organized by the Pro Loco of Fara San Martino, a key organization for the promotion of local traditions.