San Cesareo Festival

The Patron Saint of Terracina

The San Cesareo Festival is the most heartfelt event of the autumn in Terracina, in the province of Latina. This southern Lazio city celebrates its patron saint, the deacon Cesareo, who, according to tradition, arrived on the Terracina coast in the 1st century after a shipwreck. Legend has it that the young deacon opposed a cruel pagan ritual—the annual sacrifice of a youth in honor of the gods—and was sentenced to death for it: sealed in a sack, he was allegedly thrown into the sea from the promontory cliff on November 1st, 107 AD. A place of worship was built over his tomb, which later became the city's cathedral: the current Co-cathedral of San Cesareo, which dominates Piazza Municipio in the heart of the upper historic center, still houses the urn containing the martyr's remains and his precious arm-reliquary.

Three days of festivities in the historic center

Celebrations are traditionally concentrated on the weekend in early November and last for three days, from Saturday to Monday. The religious heart of the festival is the solemn Holy Mass celebrated in the co-cathedral, often presided over by the diocesan bishop, followed by the evocative procession with the saint that winds through the streets of the upper and lower historic center, accompanied by the faithful and city authorities. On Sunday, the liturgical program continues with morning and evening masses and the recitation of the Holy Rosary.

«Un Patrono per Amico»: a community celebration

Alongside the religious observances, the Pro Loco of Terracina organizes—with the patronage of the Municipality of Terracina and the collaboration of the San Cesareo Parish and the Fondazione Città di Terracina—the "Un Patrono per Amico" project, which transforms the festival into a major community event. The streets of Terracina Alta fill with markets, circus and juggling performances, concerts, games, and creative workshops. Local schools also play a leading role: fifth-grade students display their work on the patron saint in the municipal atrium, while the Roman Theater—one of the city's archaeological jewels—opens its doors for guided tours and hosts theatrical performances for children.

The San Cesareo Fair

As tradition dictates, the grand San Cesareo Fair takes place on Sunday and Monday in the weekly market area: stalls of all kinds attract visitors from across the province of Latina and lower Lazio, making it one of the most popular fairs in the Pontine territory.

An opportunity to discover Terracina

The festival is also an invitation to discover Terracina off-season: the city, famous for the Temple of Jupiter Anxur watching over the gulf from above, offers an authentic atmosphere in November, far from the summer beach tourism. Strolling through Piazza Municipio—built on the ancient Roman forum of Aemilius, with its original paving still visible—the co-cathedral, and the medieval alleys of the upper historic center during the festival means experiencing two thousand years of history, faith, popular traditions, and local flavors.