Saints Mariano and Giacomo Festival (Nocella)

The patronal feast of Nocella

The Saints Mariano and Giacomo Festival is the most cherished event of the year for Nocella, an ancient village in the municipality of Campli, in the province of Teramo, nestled in the heart of northern Abruzzo at the foot of the Monti della Laga. For four days, typically between April 27 and 30, the entire village gathers to honor its two patron saints with a tradition that weaves together religious devotion and popular celebration.

The patron saints Mariano and Giacomo

Mariano and Giacomo were two Christian martyrs from Lambesa, in Numidia (modern-day Algeria): Mariano was a lector and Giacomo a deacon, both martyred during the persecutions of the early centuries. Their cult, widespread across various Italian communities, is tied in Nocella to the charming parish church of Saints Mariano and Giacomo, built in the early 17th century on the site of a former Carmelite chapel. The liturgical feast of the two martyrs falls on April 30, the day around which the heart of the festivities is concentrated.

A village with a long history

Nocella is an ancient district located along the road climbing toward Campli. In past centuries, it was home to tailors, blacksmiths, cobblers, and carpenters, but above all to renowned master potters—terracotta artisans capable of molding devotional statues of the Madonna and Saints that are still preserved in local churches and homes today. The patron saints' church houses a remarkable hand-painted Baroque wooden ceiling, with the Madonna del Carmine at its center, as well as a 1778 arm-reliquary of Saint Mariano and a silver bust of the saint. Watching over the village is the Torre di Melatino, erected in 1394, which once served as the bell tower for the ancient abbey.

Between faith and popular celebration

The program alternates between liturgical moments and civil events: solemn masses, the procession with the statues of the saints through the village streets, and evenings of entertainment with live music and marching bands. In recent editions, the festival has concluded with concerts by local bands, featuring popular music and dance tunes that enliven the square until late at night. There is no shortage of conviviality and gastronomy, with stalls offering local flavors: the celebrated porchetta camplese, wine, and traditional Teramo dishes.

An authentic experience in Abruzzo

Far from the major tourist flows, the Nocella festival offers visitors a genuine glimpse into the culture of small Abruzzo villages, where popular religiosity and the bond with the land remain the glue of the community. For those visiting Campli—recognized as one of the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy and known for its Holy Stairs—the Nocella patronal feast is an opportunity to discover an authentic corner of the province of Teramo.