Saint Peter Patronal Festival

The patron saint's festival in Villa San Secondo

The Saint Peter Patronal Festival is the most anticipated event of the year in Villa San Secondo, a small town of just under 400 inhabitants nestled in the hills of the Province of Asti, in Piedmont, between the Versa and Rilate valleys. Every year, around the feast of Saint Peter (June 29th, with celebrations extending over the weekends at the end of the month), the village gathers around its patron saint for a festival that blends religious devotion, popular tradition, and community spirit.

A community celebration in the heart of the Asti Monferrato

Organized with passion by the Pro Loco of Villa San Secondo and numerous volunteers, the festival is a time when the entire town comes together. The program alternates traditional Catholic religious rites—such as the solemn Holy Mass in honor of Saint Peter—with secular festivities, including food stalls, musical evenings, and activities for all ages. It is a village festival in the most genuine sense, where local recipes and the warm hospitality of the volunteers make all the difference.

Local flavors and musical evenings

Cuisine is one of the pillars of the festival. Under the municipal marquee, food stalls serve traditional Piedmontese and Asti dishes: appetizers, the essential agnolotti, grilled meats, sausages, as well as street food and desserts, all accompanied by beer and wines from the Monferrato hills. Evenings are enlivened by live music and DJ sets: from dance orchestras to disco bands playing the greatest hits from the 70s to today, admission to musical performances is traditionally free.

The Big Bench and the Asti hills

Visitors to Villa San Secondo during the festival can take the opportunity to walk to the famous Big Bench, reachable on foot from the town center: a beloved panoramic spot from which to admire the rolling hills of the Asti Monferrato. The patronal festival thus becomes an opportunity to discover an authentic and lesser-known corner of rural Piedmont.

A continuing tradition

Between the candlelit Dinner under the stars, the 'Leve' celebrations, aperitifs with the band, and dance evenings, the Saint Peter Patronal Festival represents the very identity of Villa San Secondo: a small but vibrant community that opens its doors every summer to residents and visitors to share its traditions.