San Bernardino Festival

Capalbio celebrates its patron saint

The San Bernardino Festival is the annual event through which the Municipality of Capalbio, in the Province of Grosseto, honors its patron saint, San Bernardino da Siena. For three days, the medieval village, perched on a hill in the Tuscan Maremma and enclosed by its ancient walls, comes alive with events that weave together religious devotion, popular tradition, and exploration of the local area.

The festival is promoted by CCN Capalbio, the town's Natural Commercial Center, with the patronage of the municipal administration. It is designed to engage all ages: children, families, nature lovers, and visitors who climb up to one of the most charming villages on the Silver Coast.

Between faith and tradition

The most poignant moment remains the religious observance: the holy mass and the procession in honor of San Bernardino wind through the streets of the historic center, renewing an ancient bond between the Capalbio community and its patron. Surrounding this devotional core is a rich and varied program that brings back traditional games at Palazzo Collacchioni and introduces visitors to the town through the "ragazzi ciceroni" (young local guides).

Nature, birds of prey, and music

A special highlight is the free-flight falconry displays, curated by Asd Falconeria Sunrise, with exhibitions that enchant both adults and children in the historic center. There is no shortage of nature hikes through the Mediterranean scrub surrounding Capalbio, and the festival concludes with music from the traveling concert of the Grosseto Philharmonic and the drawing of the traditional San Bernardino lottery.

A village to discover

Visiting Capalbio during the festivities means combining participation in the patronal feast with the discovery of one of the Maremma's iconic landmarks, featuring stone alleys, panoramic views of the sea and countryside, and the authentic atmosphere of a town that proudly guards its roots. It is an opportunity to experience the most genuine side of Tuscany, far from the main tourist circuits.