San Gottardo Patronal Feast

The Patronal Feast of Civiasco

The San Gottardo Patronal Feast is the most cherished event of the year for Civiasco, a village of just over 250 inhabitants nestled on a moraine in the mid-Valsesia valley, in the province of Vercelli, in the heart of the alpine Piedmont. Every year, on May 4th, the village gathers around its patron saint in a celebration that weaves together faith, memory, and community life.

San Gottardo, patron of Civiasco

The cult of San Gottardo has roots spanning centuries: the San Gottardo Parish Church is dedicated to him, a 16th-century building remodeled in 1601 and again in the early 20th century, which dominates the town center. The festival follows the liturgical calendar of the saint, commemorated on May 4th, and has represented for generations the moment when the small Civiasco community renews its bond with local religious tradition.

Between liturgy and community

As is customary for patronal feasts in the Valsesia villages, the day revolves around the solemn mass celebrated in the parish church and the procession with the statue of the saint through the village streets. Alongside the religious observances, the Municipality of Civiasco and the Pro Loco enliven the day with opportunities for meeting and conviviality, in the spirit that characterizes the valley's village festivals.

A village to discover

The festival is also an opportunity to visit Civiasco and its heritage: beyond the parish church, the village preserves the 17th-century Oratory of San Rocco and the "Ercole Durio da Roc" Civic Museum, which houses costumes, tools, and testimonies of local history and the emigration of Civiasco's people. Overlooking the Sesia valley and serving as a starting point for mountain excursions, Civiasco offers visitors the authentic charm of a small mountain town.