Saints Peter and Paul Patronal Feast

A patronal feast in the heart of the Vallagarina

The Saints Peter and Paul Patronal Feast is the most significant annual event in the municipality of Terragnolo, located in the province of Trento, in the heart of Trentino-Alto Adige. It is celebrated every year on June 29th, the liturgical date dedicated to the two apostles, Peter and Paul, the town's patron saints. The heart of the celebration is the Piazza hamlet, the municipal seat, where the historic parish church dedicated to the two saints stands.

The Church of Saints Peter and Paul

The Parish Church of Saints Peter and Paul is the monument around which the entire Terragnolo community gathers. Documented as early as 1242, the church has medieval roots: it was consecrated in 1377 and gained the status of curacy in 1469, separating from the parish of Lizzana. Over the centuries, the building underwent several renovations: between the 17th and 18th centuries, its orientation was redesigned, the nave was raised, and the onion-shaped bell tower was added, while a side nave was opened in the 19th century. Severely damaged during the First World War, the church was rebuilt and restored, with conservation work on the stucco decorations and frescoes continuing until 2013. Today, it houses frescoes dating from the 16th to the 17th century and three Baroque altars, a testament to the valley's centuries-old devotion.

Tradition and community

The patronal feast maintains its religious and communal character: the solemn liturgical celebration in the parish church is the highlight of the day, followed by traditional gatherings among families living in the many hamlets of the plateau. In Terragnolo, community life is kept vibrant by the Traditional Costume Group, an association that preserves the town's historical, cultural, and folkloric memory, enlivening the main annual events with everything from old crafts to mountain flavors.

Terragnolo, a scattered mountain municipality

Terragnolo is a typical scattered municipality in the Vallagarina valley, nestled at an altitude of about 770 meters along the valley carved by the Leno stream. Its hamlets—Piazza, Zoreri, and many smaller villages—dot the wooded slopes between Rovereto and the plateau. The June 29th feast represents an opportunity for this mountain community to gather, reaffirm its identity, and maintain a centuries-old tradition in a stunning landscape.

An event for the local area

The Saints Peter and Paul celebration is part of a rich summer calendar in Terragnolo that includes other popular events in the Piazza hamlet. For those visiting the Vallagarina in summer, the patronal feast is an authentic way to discover the life of a Trentino mountain village, far from the most crowded tourist circuits.