Saint Therese of the Child Jesus Feast

A patronal feast in the heart of the Roman Sabina

The Saint Therese of the Child Jesus Feast is the most anticipated event of the year in Acquaviva di Nerola, a hamlet of the municipality of Nerola, in the Province of Rome, Lazio. Here, nestled in the hills of the Roman Sabina and just a short distance from the Orsini castle that overlooks the village of Nerola, the community celebrates the saint of Lisieux, the patron of the hamlet, with a festival that blends religious devotion with popular celebration.

The center of it all is the parish church of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, built in 1950 and dedicated in 1952, and the adjacent Piazza Santa Teresa, which for a few days transforms into a stage, an open-air dining room, and a meeting place for the entire village.

When it takes place

The festivities are traditionally concentrated in the last days of September and conclude on October 1st, the day the Church commemorates Saint Therese of the Child Jesus. The calendar varies slightly from year to year to align the most festive moments with the weekend: in 2024, celebrations were held from September 26th to 30th, while in 2025 they took place on Saturday, September 27th, and Sunday, September 28th, concluding on Wednesday, October 1st.

The religious aspect

The feast opens with a three-day preparation period (triduum), celebrated in the afternoons leading up to the anniversary. The most solemn moment is Sunday: morning mass, followed in the late afternoon by solemn mass and the procession through the streets of the hamlet, accompanied by a candlelight vigil. Families decorate their facades and balconies along the route, following an invitation the Committee renews to the residents every year.

Music, entertainment, and activities

The evenings in the square are hosted by orchestras, cover bands, and tribute acts, with free admission. Recent editions have featured live concerts, DJ sets, and shows dedicated to the great names of Italian music; there is never a shortage of entertainment for children in the afternoon and dancing that keeps the square lively until late at night. In 2024, a flag-wavers parade opened the Sunday festivities.

Food stalls

Next to the stage, the food stall managed by the Committee volunteers operates every evening, offering specialties typical of the Sabina village festivals:

• Sandwiches and porchetta
• Fried pizzas and homemade fried snacks
• Crêpes and desserts
• Draft beer and local wine

Proceeds support the festival's expenses and parish activities.

The fireworks display

The closing is entrusted, as per tradition, to the fireworks display that illuminates the valley at the end of the procession: it is the most photographed moment of the feast and the one that attracts visitors from neighboring Sabina towns.

Why it's worth visiting

Acquaviva di Nerola is not a mass tourism destination: precisely for this reason, its patronal feast retains a genuine character, made of volunteer work, families returning to the village for the occasion, and a square that fills up without the need for grand resources. For those visiting inland Lazio, it is an opportunity to discover a piece of authentic Sabina, less than an hour from Rome, and to participate for free in a tradition that has been repeated for over seventy years.