Saint Sebastian Festival

The patronal feast of the Misericordia

In Montevarchi, in the heart of the Arezzo Valdarno, the Saint Sebastian Festival is one of the most cherished winter events. It is organized by the Venerable Confraternity of Misericordia of Montevarchi, which honors Saint Sebastian as its patron and protector. The celebration traditionally takes place around January 20th, the liturgical feast day of the saint, bringing together brothers, sisters, parishioners, and citizens for a day that combines faith, tradition, and a sense of community.

A day of spirituality and tradition

The morning begins at the parish hall of the Insigne Collegiata di San Lorenzo, with the blessing and distribution of the traditional blessed bread rolls and the collection of membership dues. The most solemn moment is the Holy Mass celebrated in the Collegiate Church, during which the investiture of new members takes place: one of the most significant moments in the life of the confraternity, where new members receive their habit and commit themselves to serving others.

The parade through the city streets

After the religious service, the festivities move to Piazza Varchi, the heart of Montevarchi, with the welcoming of the sisters, a group photo, and the parade through the city streets. In several editions, the day has also featured the blessing of vehicles and a procession of ambulances and emergency vehicles from the Misericordia, a tangible symbol of the association's daily commitment to serving the local area. The event traditionally concludes with a social lunch that brings together volunteers and supporters.

The Misericordie, a Tuscan institution

The Misericordia Confraternities are one of the oldest and most deeply rooted volunteer institutions in Tuscany, founded to provide assistance, relief, and support to the most vulnerable. The Saint Sebastian patronal feast is the occasion when the Misericordia of Montevarchi publicly renews this bond with the city, in a blend of religious devotion and civic identity that spans the entire Valdarno and the province of Arezzo.