San Peru d'Biciulei – Patronal Feast of Boccioleto

San Peru d'Biciulei, the patronal feast of Boccioleto

In the heart of the Upper Valsesia, along the banks of the Sermenza stream, the municipality of Boccioleto (Province of Vercelli, Piedmont) celebrates its patronal feast every year at the end of June. The dialect name, San Peru d'Biciulei—meaning "Saint Peter of Boccioleto" in the local tongue—speaks volumes about how deeply rooted this celebration is in the village's identity. The feast is dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul, the town's patrons, and represents one of the most heartfelt moments in the valley's summer calendar.

A day of faith, music, and tradition

The festival unfolds over a single day, following a well-established script passed down through the years. The religious aspect remains the core of the event, with a solemn High Mass celebrated in the parish church followed by afternoon Vespers. Immediately after the services, the celebration turns secular: the Boccioleto Philharmonic, the town's historic brass band, livens up the center with a concert, while the village streets fill with markets and stalls featuring local woodcarvers, a traditional craft of this part of the Valsesia.

Miacce, the queen of the feast

No Boccioletese festival would be complete without miacce (or miasce), the gastronomic specialty that symbolizes the Upper Valsesia: thin, crispy wafers cooked between two red-hot iron plates, served either plain or with various fillings. The Pro Loco of Boccioleto, the driving force behind the event, manages the food stand where residents and visitors gather to enjoy lunch and share the day's convivial atmosphere. Much of the festival's social life revolves around these miacce, amidst chatter, music, and the delicious scents rising from the plates.

The village of Boccioleto

Boccioleto is one of the most characteristic municipalities in the Upper Valsesia, a land of Walser culture and ancient hamlets scattered across the hillsides. Its stone houses, sacred frescoes along the mule tracks, and trails leading up to the mountain pastures provide a natural backdrop for the patronal feast. In some editions, the day is enriched by a half-day guided hike in the surroundings, an easy route that allows visitors to discover the alpine landscape before returning for lunch with miacce. The San Peru festival is thus not only a religious celebration but also an opportunity to rediscover the territory and the community's traditions.

For the public, San Peru d'Biciulei is an invitation to experience an authentic mountain village on its most important day of celebration: a free, family-friendly event deeply tied to the culture of the Valsesia.