Saints Peter and Paul Patronal Festival

A cherished tradition in the heart of the Phlegraean Fields

The Saints Peter and Paul Patronal Festival is the annual event that, at the end of June, brings together the entire community of Quarto, a town in the Metropolitan City of Naples, in the heart of the Phlegraean Fields, Campania. The liturgical feast of the two apostles falls on June 29th, and a multi-day program is built around this date, alternating moments of devotion, outdoor performances, and social gatherings for local families.

It is not merely a religious celebration: over the years, the festival has become one of the most popular summer events in Quarto, attracting visitors from neighboring towns in the Phlegraean area.

Piazzale Masullo, the festival stage

The nerve center of the festivities is Piazzale Masullo, at the Quarto junction, one of the city's largest open spaces. For the occasion, the area is decorated with illuminations, a stage for evening shows, stalls, and zones dedicated to street food. The lighting of the illuminations, which precedes the start of the main program by a few days, is a small collective ritual in itself: it marks the beginning of the festival and transforms the appearance of the neighborhood streets.

The procession and the «Vanvitelliana» Band

The most solemn moment is the procession on June 29th, when the statues of the patron saints are carried through the streets of the neighborhood, accompanied by the faithful. The parade is enlivened by the «Vanvitelliana» Musical Band of Bacoli, a Phlegraean brass ensemble that accompanies the march with the typical repertoire of Southern Italian processions. It is a scene that perfectly captures the bond between the parish and the urban fabric of Quarto.

Music, shows, and fireworks

The evenings at Piazzale Masullo have a popular and intergenerational appeal. Recent editions have featured:

• 90s music shows, with a revival of the decade's dance hits;
• a Caribbean night with the participation of DJs well-known to the Campanian public;
• entertainment for children and dance evenings;
• fireworks and artistic lights, with the pyrotechnic show that traditionally accompanies the festivities;
• markets, fairs, and food areas set up along the square.

Festival organizers

The event is promoted by the Saints Peter and Paul Apostles Parish of Quarto, which manages the religious aspect, while the artistic direction of the evening shows has been entrusted to Radio Marte, a historic Neapolitan radio station. The program has received support from the Metropolitan City of Naples, which includes the festival in its calendar of metropolitan events dedicated to culture, traditions, and faith.

A setting to be discovered

Visitors arriving in Quarto for the festival find themselves just a few kilometers from some of the most evocative sites in the Phlegraean Fields: the port and Rione Terra of Pozzuoli, Lake Averno, and the Castle of Baia. The Quarto basin, of volcanic origin, owes its name to the fourth mile of the Roman Via Campana and preserves ancient remains such as the Roman necropolis. Combining a festival evening with a day of sightseeing in the Phlegraean area is the best way to grasp the identity of this corner of Campania, where popular devotion coexists with a millennial history.

When it takes place

The festival always revolves around June 29th, a fixed date in the liturgical calendar. In 2025, the program ran from June 27th to 30th, with preparatory events starting as early as the 24th. Exact dates and the program are usually released by the parish and local Phlegraean press in the weeks immediately preceding the event: it is therefore useful to check official channels before traveling.