San Biagio Festival

The patronal feast of Caramagna Piemonte

The San Biagio Festival is the most cherished event of the year for Caramagna Piemonte, a small town in the province of Cuneo, nestled in the heart of the Piedmontese plains between the Saluzzo and Carmagnola areas. Every year in early February, the community gathers around its patron saint for a weekend that combines religious observance with conviviality, following a tradition passed down through generations.

An ancient bond with the Abbey of Santa Maria

Devotion to Saint Blaise (San Biagio) in Caramagna runs deep. The founding charter of the ancient Abbey of Santa Maria, dating back to 1028 and commissioned by Olderico Manfredi, Marquis of Turin, and his wife Berta, documents the presence of a relic of the saint: a small fragment of Saint Blaise's skull, which is still preserved and venerated by the community today. This millennial bond makes the patronal feast much more than a simple anniversary: it is the living memory of a town that finds its identity in its own history and spiritual heritage.

Music and devotion: the program

The festivities open with a musical evening at the Cinema Teatro Comunale in Piazza Boetti, a moment of gathering and celebration for all citizens. This is followed, on the day dedicated to the patron saint, by a solemn High Mass accompanied by a procession through the streets of the historic center. The local brass band enlivens the evening with a popular repertoire, while the liturgical celebration and the religious pageant represent the heart of the festival, featuring the traditional blessing associated with Saint Blaise, the protector of the throat.

Saint Blaise, protector of the throat

Saint Blaise, a bishop and martyr who lived in Armenia between the 3rd and 4th centuries, is venerated throughout Italy as the protector of the throat and its ailments. His feast day falls on February 3rd, and in many Piedmontese towns, it is celebrated with special rites and blessings. In Caramagna Piemonte, the occasion holds special significance, bringing together residents and visitors in an atmosphere of warmth and community spirit.

An opportunity to discover authentic Piedmont

Attending the San Biagio Festival means connecting with the most genuine side of Piedmont—that of the small villages on the Cuneo plains, far from the main tourist circuits. It is the perfect occasion to visit the Abbey of Santa Maria, a jewel of local sacred architecture now used as an exhibition space, and to savor the intimate atmosphere of a community that keeps its religious and folk traditions alive.