Saint William Festival

A patronal festival between faith and legend

In the municipality of Castiglione della Pescaia, in the province of Grosseto, in the heart of the Tuscan Maremma, the Saint William Festival is the most cherished event of the year. The town's patron saint is Saint William of Malavalle, a fascinating and in many ways mysterious figure: according to tradition, he was a noble knight of French origin who, after a dissolute life, converted and undertook the three great medieval pilgrimages—Santiago de Compostela, Rome, and Jerusalem—before retiring as a hermit in the Malavalle countryside, where he lived in prayer and penance until his death in 1157.

The saint who slew the dragon

Local devotion is tied to a famous legend: it is said that when William arrived in Malavalle, he found a dragon nesting in a cave that had long terrorized the area. After tracing the sign of the cross, the saint reportedly killed the creature with a blow of his staff, liberating the territory. The numerous miracles attributed to his intercession led Pope Alexander III to recognize his cult between 1174 and 1181, giving rise to the eremitic order of the Williamites.

The pilgrimage to the Hermitage of Malavalle

The central moment of the festival is the walking pilgrimage to the Hermitage of Malavalle, the monastic complex built around the saint's tomb in the Boschetto area. Among the ruins of the ancient convent—with its single-nave Romanesque church, monks' cells, and cloister remains—a solemn Holy Mass presided over by the Bishop takes place, a moment of deep reflection immersed in the Maremma scrub landscape. In recent years, the pilgrimage has gained added significance: the Hermitage is undergoing a major restoration and enhancement project, with sections being inaugurated precisely during the festival.

A community celebration

The festival is not just liturgy. The community gathers for convivial moments that renew their sense of belonging: the community dinner based on sharing food brought by the faithful, screenings dedicated to the Living Passion, and, at the end of the pilgrimage, the grand barbecue open to everyone at the hunters' hut. It is the occasion when Castiglione della Pescaia, a Tuscan coastal village known primarily for its sea and summer tourism, shows its most authentic soul, deeply rooted in tradition.

When it is celebrated

The liturgical feast of Saint William falls on May 10th, but in Maremma towns, the patron saint is usually celebrated in the first days of May, with events spread over several days. In Castiglione della Pescaia, the festival involves the parish, local associations, and the entire municipal community.