San Biagio Patronal Feast and Stuzze Festival

A festival of fire in the heart of Ciociaria

The San Biagio Patronal Feast is the most cherished event of the year for the community of Fiuggi, a spa town in the province of Frosinone, in southern Lazio. Every year, between late January and February 3rd, the historic center transforms into a grand open-air stage where religious devotion and folk tradition blend seamlessly. The moment everyone awaits is the lighting of the Stuzze on the evening of February 2nd, the eve of the saint's feast day.

The miracle of fire and the Stuzze

The tradition is rooted in an episode that local memory places on the night of February 2, 1298: according to the story passed down through generations, the ancient Anticoli di Campagna—the historical name of Fiuggi—was saved from a siege thanks to the intervention of the saint, who made huge fires appear, deceiving the besiegers and putting them to flight. Since then, the community renews that miracle every year by lighting the Stuzze, large piles of wood and oak logs.

In the weeks leading up to the festival, the various districts prepare their capannoni (structures): wood is collected, structures are built, and teams are organized. Then comes the moment of the «Stracinamo iù capannoio», the characteristic parade where these structures are carried on shoulders through the streets to Piazza Trento e Trieste, amidst cheers and shouts of «Viva San Biagio». At dusk, the Stuzze are blessed and finally set on fire: the square lights up with an orange glow visible from afar, creating one of the most evocative images of the Lazio winter.

The religious aspect

Alongside the fire festival, the calendar maintains its devotional dimension. In the days leading up to February 2nd, rosaries, vespers, and celebrations take place in the Collegiate Church of San Pietro Apostolo. On February 3rd, the liturgical day of Saint Blaise, the Church of San Biagio hosts a solemn mass followed by a procession with the statue of the patron saint, accompanied by the «Città di Fiuggi» marching band. The traditional rite of the blessing of the throat with crossed candles is also observed, a gesture linked to the miracle where the saint saved a child who was choking on a fish bone.

Markets, games, and shows

For two days, Piazza Trento e Trieste and the surrounding streets host a packed program of side events:

• Craft and food markets, featuring typical Ciociaria products and stalls along Via Ernesta Besso;
• Traditional games for children and families, with awards for the district teams;
• Fireworks display to conclude the evening of the Stuzze;
• Free concerts at the Municipal Theater and street performances in the town center;
• Tastings of bruschetta and traditional dishes, often cooked directly on the bonfire embers.

Why it's worth the trip

Fiuggi is known throughout Italy for its thermal waters, but those who arrive in February discover a different side of the city: that of a mountain town that, in the coldest month of the year, gathers around the fire. The festival is not a reconstruction designed for tourists, but a living rite, organized by the districts and lived intensely by the inhabitants. Access is free, and the atmosphere is that of a rare, genuine community celebrating itself. We recommend arriving on the afternoon of February 2nd to follow the parade of the structures and staying until the fireworks.