Saints Giovanni and Paolo Festival

A patronal feast in the heart of the Alto Sangro

Every summer, the small village of Scontrone, in the province of L'Aquila, gathers around its patron saints: Giovanni and Paolo, two 4th-century Roman martyr brothers. The patronal feast, traditionally celebrated around June 26th and 27th, is one of the most cherished events for the community of this town, perched at an altitude of 1,038 meters on the left bank of the Sangro River, at the gateway to the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park.

Faith and popular devotion

The highlight of the festivities is the solemn procession that winds through the alleys and small squares of the historic center, with the statues of the saints carried on the shoulders of the faithful amidst chants, prayers, and the participation of the entire community. It is a ritual that, as in many villages of the Abruzzo Apennines, unites generations and draws back to Scontrone even those who have emigrated and their descendants, bound to the village by a strong sense of identity.

Music, brass bands, and fireworks

Alongside the religious dimension, the festival offers the traditional rich atmosphere of an Abruzzo village feast: brass band concerts enliven the days with musical performances, while in the evening, fireworks light up the sky over the Sangro valley, offering a striking spectacle framed by the mountains. Piazza Sangro, the heart of the village and a panoramic balcony over the valley, becomes the hub of the celebrations.

Scontrone, the village of murals

The festival is also an opportunity to discover one of the most characteristic villages in Abruzzo. Known as the village of murals for the paintings that decorate the house facades—often inspired by the theme of emigration—Scontrone houses the International Museum of Women in Art (MIDA) and the paleontological documentation center dedicated to Hoplitomeryx, the curious fossil mammal discovered in this very territory. A heritage that frames a festival where one can breathe in the history and identity of the Alto Sangro.

A community gathering

Organized with the involvement of the Municipality of Scontrone and its citizens, the Saints Giovanni and Paolo Festival represents much more than a religious anniversary: it is the moment when the village recognizes itself in its roots, amidst the mountains of Abruzzo, and opens its streets to visitors and travelers in search of authentic mountain traditions.