San Berardo Fair

The patronal fair of Teramo

The San Berardo Fair is one of the most anticipated and well-attended events of the year in Teramo, the capital of the province of the same name in Abruzzo. Every December 19th, the day dedicated to the city's patron saint, the historic center fills with stalls that attract thousands of visitors from across the province and neighboring regions, in a festive atmosphere that blends commerce, tradition, and popular devotion.

A vast open-air market

The event, organized by Confcommercio Teramo in collaboration with FIVA (Italian Federation of Street Vendors), features around 230 exhibitors lining the streets and squares of the city heart from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. The stalls offer a vast assortment of goods:

• clothing and footwear;
• local specialties and gastronomy;
• handicrafts and gift items;
• Christmas sweets and all kinds of curiosities.

The fair takes place just days before Christmas and serves as a traditional opportunity for holiday shopping, immersed in the atmosphere of Teramo's historic alleys.

San Berardo, patron saint of the city

The fair is linked to the figure of Saint Berardo da Pagliara, Bishop of Teramo in the 12th century, remembered for his dedication to the poor and his work in pacifying the city. Venerated as the patron saint of Teramo and its diocese, he is celebrated on December 19th, the day of his death. His relics are kept in the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, the Duomo of Teramo.

Religious celebrations

The fair is accompanied by solemn rites in honor of the saint: the procession of the relics to the Cathedral, the pontifical mass celebrated by the bishop with the chapter and local clergy, the singing of the Responsory of San Berardo, and the traditional offering of the candle to the patron saint by the mayor on behalf of the entire community. At the end, the bishop blesses the city with the saint's relics (the bust and the blessing arm).

An identity-defining event

Amidst crowded stalls, the scent of sweets, and centuries-old rites, the San Berardo Fair tells the story of Teramo's soul: an event where the commercial and spiritual dimensions coexist, renewing the deep bond between the Abruzzo city and its patron saint every year.