San Marcello Martire Patronal Feast (Caturano)

The Patron Saint of Caturano

The San Marcello Martire Patronal Feast is the most anticipated event of the year for Caturano, a village of about three thousand residents in the Municipality of Macerata Campania, in the province of Caserta, located in the heart of the lower Volturno plain in Campania. Every year, on the first weekend of October, the small town transforms: street lights are hung, the parish church is decorated for the occasion, and the main square is given back to the community for four days of religious and secular celebrations. This is not a tourist-driven event; it is a celebration the town holds for itself, which is precisely why it retains an authenticity lost elsewhere.

An Ancient Devotion

Caturano appears in medieval documents dating back to the 13th century, and its history is closely linked to that of ancient Capua. The village remained administratively autonomous until 1811, when it was annexed to Macerata Campania. The devotion to San Marcello Martire—who, according to tradition, was killed during the persecutions of Emperor Julian around 360 AD—is the thread that has held this village identity together even after the loss of its municipal autonomy. The saint's memory has also been revived several times in theatrical form through the so-called tragedy of San Marcello, a sacred play performed by the locals and staged during some editions in the 2000s.

The Procession

The highlight of the feast remains the Sunday procession. The statue of the patron saint leaves the Church of San Marcello Martire and slowly travels through the village streets, accompanied by the clergy, pallbearers, the faithful, and a brass band. Balconies are decorated, families step out onto their doorsteps, and the procession stops at traditional points established over the years. The liturgical program, managed by the parish, revolves around the procession, featuring solemn masses and moments of prayer that prepare the community for the event.

Caserta Flavors in the Square

Alongside the religious aspect, the feast has a strong social component. During the evenings, the committee sets up stands in the square dedicated to typical products from the Caserta area: gourmet sandwiches, dairy products and mozzarella from the plains, wine, and traditional desserts. It is the same formula that the San Marcello Martire Festivities Committee carries out throughout the year with events that have become small local traditions, such as Benvenuta Primavera (Welcome Spring) in Piazza della Libertà and evenings dedicated to panuozzo and Gragnano red wine, organized in collaboration with the parish priest, Father Pietro Rachiero.

Music and Entertainment

The final evenings are dedicated to entertainment in the square. In past editions, the lineup has featured comedy shows and concerts by artists from the Neapolitan and Campanian music scene, with the closing Monday night being the highlight of the event. The audience is typical of Caserta's patronal feasts: entire families, young people, elderly residents sitting on chairs brought from home, and many emigrants who return to the village specifically for these days.

Caturano and Macerata Campania, a Land of Festivals

The Municipality of Macerata Campania is known throughout Italy for the Sant'Antuono Feast and the Battuglie di Pastellessa, the floats where barrels, vats, and scythes become musical instruments in January: a unique intangible heritage in which Caturano also participates with its own floats and evening parade. The October feast in honor of San Marcello Martire is its autumnal counterpart—more intimate and devotional, but equally essential to the local identity. Those visiting the Royal Palace of Caserta or the Roman amphitheater of Santa Maria Capua Vetere will find here, just a few kilometers away, the less touristy and more authentic side of the province.

Why it's worth attending

• Free entry to all events in the square.
• A traditional procession that is still widely attended by the community.
• Popular Caserta gastronomy at local festival prices.
• Just minutes away from Caserta, Capua, and Santa Maria Capua Vetere.