Saint Secundus Festival (Castagnola Festival)

Saint Secundus and the castagnola

The Saint Secundus Festival is celebrated in Ventimiglia every August 26th, the day dedicated to the saint. Alongside the patronal dimension is the Castagnola Festival, organized by the Ciassa district in Piazza della Cattedrale, in the heart of the old town. The castagnola is the typical dessert that is the star of the festival, recognized as a De.Co. (Communal Denomination) product, safeguarding local gastronomic tradition.

A festival with a long history

The Castagnola Festival is a historic event: in 2024 it reached its 47th edition, in 2025 its 48th, and continues its long annual tradition. Organized by the Ciassa district — one of Ventimiglia's historic districts that also animates the Medieval August — the festival is an expression of neighborhood pride and the bond between the community and its traditional recipes.

Festival in the historic center

The setting is the evocative atmosphere of Ventimiglia Alta, the medieval hilltop town, with its alleys and cathedral. The festival combines food stalls with castagnola and other specialties, music, and the atmosphere of a patronal feast, on an August evening that draws residents and tourists to the historic center.

Ventimiglia and its districts

The districts of Ventimiglia, with their good-natured rivalry and roots in the historic neighborhoods, are the living fabric of the city's traditions. The Castagnola Festival of the Ciassa district is one of the moments when this identity is expressed outside of the Medieval August, in the name of taste and village celebration.