San Giulio Festival

The San Giulio Festival in Netro

Every year in late January, the municipality of Netro, a small village in the Elvo Valley in the Province of Biella, celebrates the San Giulio Festival, dedicated to the patron saint of stonemasons and builders. Organized by the Pro Loco of Netro, the event is one of the most deeply rooted traditions in the town's life, attracting residents, families, and former Netro inhabitants who return for the occasion.

A tradition linked to the stonemasons of the Elvo Valley

The festival is deeply rooted in the history of Netro and the entire Elvo Valley, a land of skilled construction workers. For generations, Netro's stonemasons, who were also experts in decoration, emigrated across Italy and abroad in search of fortune, putting their skills to use and often founding small construction businesses. The 'priori' festival of San Giulio was born in memory of these workers and still keeps the bond between the community and its history of craftsmanship and emigration alive today.

The festival program

The celebrations are concentrated over a weekend, between Sunday and Monday:

• Sunday morning: gathering at the Alpini headquarters for a social moment, followed by a parade through the village streets accompanied by the Netro marching band.
• Solemn High Mass in honor of San Giulio.
• Communal lunch at the multipurpose hall, available by reservation.
• Monday evening: the famous 'Cena di San Giulin', the highlight of the festival, during which the ritual of the passing of the 'priori' takes place.

The 'priori' ritual

A defining element of the festival is the passing of the torch between the 'priori': the outgoing 'priori' hand over their roles to their successors, whose identities remain secret until the Monday evening dinner, when they are finally revealed to the cheers of those present. It is this game of anticipation and collective participation that makes the San Giulio Festival a highly awaited event for the entire Netro community.

An opportunity to discover the Elvo Valley

Participating in the San Giulio Festival means experiencing an authentic slice of popular tradition in Piedmont and the Biella area, far from the main tourist circuits. Nestled in the mountains of the Elvo Valley, Netro offers visitors the chance to immerse themselves in the spirit of a village that proudly preserves its identity, built on hard work, faith, and conviviality.