San Gennaro and Madonna Addolorata Festival

A festival that concludes the Roccolana summer

Every year in September, the village of Rocca San Giovanni celebrates the San Gennaro and Madonna Addolorata Festival, an event that ideally closes the rich Estate Roccolana calendar. After months of cultural, musical, and social events that bring the town to life between June and August, the community gathers for two days dedicated to devotion and tradition, in an atmosphere of reflection and celebration that leads the village into autumn.

Between faith and community

The festival unites two figures dear to the popular devotion of Southern Italy and Abruzzo: San Gennaro, a martyr and patron saint linked to the religious tradition of central-southern Italy, and the Madonna Addolorata, whose cult is deeply rooted in popular piety. The celebrations alternate between religious moments—liturgical services and traditional rites—and convivial gatherings that involve families, visitors, and the entire local community in a collective embrace.

Rocca San Giovanni, a village on the Trabocchi Coast

Rocca San Giovanni is one of the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy, perched between the hills and the sea in the province of Chieti, in the heart of the Adriatic Abruzzo region. The town overlooks the evocative Trabocchi Coast, famous for the ancient wooden fishing structures that dot the coastline like giant spiders suspended over the sea. The historic center preserves the Romanesque church of San Matteo Apostolo and traces of a medieval past dating back to the 11th century, when Abbot Oderisio fortified the settlement.

A land of traditions and flavors

The festival is also an opportunity to discover the gastronomic identity of the area: from palazzole—anchovies or sardines with breadcrumbs, garlic, and parsley—to the DOC wines of the Colline Teatine and the PDO olive oil produced from the Gentile di Chieti olives. Those visiting Rocca San Giovanni during the festival will find an authentic village where religious devotion intertwines with the conviviality and hospitality typical of Abruzzo towns.

When it takes place

The 2026 edition of the San Gennaro and Madonna Addolorata Festival will be held on September 19 and 20, 2026, at the conclusion of the Estate Roccolana. The detailed program of celebrations is usually released in the weeks prior by the Municipality of Rocca San Giovanni and the local parish authorities.