San Biagio Festival

The patronal festival of Cantalupo in Sabina

The San Biagio Festival is the most cherished tradition in Cantalupo in Sabina, a village in the Sabina region of Rieti, nestled in the hills of the Lazio province. Every year on February 3rd, the community honors its patron saint with a day that bridges the solemnity of religious celebration with the joy of a village-wide gathering. It is a fixed-date event, deeply rooted in local identity, which has marked the calendar of this Sabina village for generations.

Saint Blaise, the protector of the throat

Saint Blaise, Bishop of Sebaste and martyr, is venerated throughout Italy on February 3rd and is invoked as the protector against throat ailments. Tradition recalls the episode where the saint saved a child who was choking on a fish bone: this gave rise to the famous rite of the blessing of the throat, performed by the priest using two crossed candles. In Cantalupo in Sabina, this ancient gesture is the spiritual heart of the festival, drawing devotees of all ages to the church every year.

A day of devotion and community

The festival is free to attend and runs continuously from morning until evening, organized by the Pro Loco of Cantalupo in Sabina in collaboration with the local municipality. Surrounding the liturgical celebrations in honor of the patron saint, the village comes alive with moments of conviviality open to all citizens: an opportunity to reconnect, keep folk traditions alive, and strengthen the sense of community belonging. The event, free and open to everyone, confirms the family-oriented and local spirit of the occasion.

Cantalupo in Sabina and the Sabina territory

Set among the olive groves of Sabina, a land famous for its extra virgin olive oil, Cantalupo in Sabina preserves the intimate atmosphere of small Lazio villages, with its historic center, stone alleys, and open views of the Rieti countryside. Located a short distance from Rome and well-integrated into the Sabina itinerary, the village offers visitors the charm of an authentic tradition, far from mass tourism. The San Biagio Festival is the ideal occasion to discover this corner of Lazio at the moment it best expresses its communal soul.

An experience to live

Sober and genuine, the San Biagio Festival is not a grand spectacle but a village feast in the truest sense of the word: faith, memory, and community intertwined in a single day. For those visiting Sabina in winter, experiencing the blessing of the throat and the festive atmosphere of the village means connecting with one of the most deeply rooted traditions cherished by the inhabitants of Cantalupo in Sabina.