San Liberato Patronal Feast

The Sant'Albano Stura Patronal Feast

Every year, between late August and early September, Sant'Albano Stura celebrates its patron saint with the San Liberato Feast: eleven to twelve days of events that transform this small town in the province of Cuneo, Piedmont, into a vibrant hub of activity spread across the streets, the main square, and Parco Olmi. The highlight traditionally falls on the last Sunday of August, the date around which the entire calendar revolves.

A Community Celebration

San Liberato, the Christian martyr venerated as the town's protector, is the thread that binds this deeply communal event together. The evenings are organized by the town's active associations: the Pro Loco, the Alpini Group, the ACLI Circle, the local Bocciofila, the A.S.D. Calcio Sant'Albano, and the Oratorio. The result is a program that blends the sacred and the profane, rural tradition and a shared sense of joy, where everyone—children, youth, and seniors—finds something to enjoy.

What to Eat

Gastronomy is a major highlight. Recurring events include the historic Soma d'Aj Festival hosted by the Alpini, grilled meat nights, and Piedmontese specialties like snails 'à la parisienne' and eel in carpione, alongside international flavors like Valencian paella and seafood nights. Not to be missed is the famous San Liberato Lunch at the ACLI Circle.

Music, Dance, and Sports

Evenings come alive with ballroom orchestras, Piedmontese musical nights, Occitan dances, country performances, and DJ sets for the younger crowd. On the sports front, there are foosball tournaments, petanque competitions, a youth cycling race, and friendly football matches, while the little ones have their dedicated 'Children's Day' at the Oratorio with traditional games and inflatables. To top it all off, the Luna Park (funfair) is set up in Piazza Europa for the entire duration of the festivities.

Faith and Tradition

The religious heart of the festival remains the solemn Mass on the patronal Sunday, the Mayor's greeting to the eighteen-year-olds, and the evocative blessing of agricultural machinery, a nod to the rural roots of this corner of Piedmont. It is a festival that, year after year, tells the story of the identity of Sant'Albano Stura.