Saint Thomas Festival — Patronal Feast of Daiano

The patronal feast of Daiano

The Saint Thomas Festival is the patronal feast of Daiano, a small village in the municipality of Ville di Fiemme, in the Fiemme Valley, in the heart of Trentino-Alto Adige. Every year, at the beginning of July, the community gathers around the parish church to honor Saint Thomas the Apostle, the village's patron saint, whose feast day falls on July 3rd. It is one of those mountain festivals that avoids fanfare, instead carefully preserving the ancient bond between the village, its church, and its families.

The Church of Saint Thomas

The heart of the festival is the Church of Saint Thomas, one of the oldest sacred buildings in the valley. Its solemn consecration is documented in 1193, and a second consecration was celebrated in 1372, likely following a reconstruction. In the second half of the 15th century, the chancel area and parts of the walls were decorated with frescoes attributed to an anonymous master, almost certainly from the Brixen area. At the beginning of the 16th century, the church lost its original medieval form and took on a Gothic appearance, in line with the tastes of the time. The patron saint's feast takes place around this treasure trove of history and art.

The festival program

The festival revolves around the religious and communal dimensions of the patronal feast. The central moment is the Holy Mass in honor of Saint Thomas, celebrated in the village church or outdoors near Via San Thomas. After the celebration, the festivities continue in a convivial atmosphere with:

• refreshments for everyone, offered to the community at the Parco bar;
• Baby Dance and activities designed for children and families;
• moments of meeting and conviviality among residents, vacationers, and guests of the valley.

It is a village-scale event, free and open to all: adults, families, and children will find a simple opportunity to spend time together in one of the most beautiful natural settings in the Trentino Dolomites.

The organizers

The Saint Thomas Festival is promoted by the Parish of Daiano, in collaboration with the Santa Maria del Cammino Pastoral Unit and the Noi le Ville Association, entities that bring life to the village and the entire municipality of Ville di Fiemme.

Daiano and the Fiemme Valley

Daiano is a small mountain village in the Autonomous Province of Trento, now part of the municipality of Ville di Fiemme along with Carano and Varena. Immersed in the green meadows and forests of the Fiemme Valley, at the foot of the Dolomites, it offers an ideal landscape for those seeking authenticity and tradition. The patronal festival is the perfect opportunity to discover this corner of Trentino during the brightest time of the year, amidst hikes, mountain huts, and the warm hospitality of the people of Fiemme.