San Pietro ad Spoltinum Festival

A patronal feast in the hills of Mosciano Sant'Angelo

The San Pietro ad Spoltinum Festival takes place every year in late June in the Selva Piana district, within Borgo Spoltino, one of the hillside localities of the Mosciano Sant'Angelo municipality in the province of Teramo, in the heart of the Abruzzo region. The festival stems from popular devotion to Saint Peter, to whom the small church that gives the event its name is dedicated. It brings the district community together for an appointment that combines faith, memory, and conviviality.

The Church of San Pietro ad Spoltinum

The heart of the festivities is the Church of San Pietro ad Spoltinum, a building with ancient origins: the original structure likely dates back to the 9th century, though only a few fragments remain. The name "ad Spoltinum" derives from a nearby Roman-era village that fell into ruin, confirming the layered history of this stretch of hills. The church we see today was rebuilt in the first half of the 19th century at the initiative of the Savini family: in 1845 the sacristy was added, in 1887 an important restoration was carried out, and in 1932 Francesco Savini enriched the interior with frescoes and sacred furnishings. A further restoration project took place in 2003.

The building, made almost entirely of brick with river pebbles in the lower section, features a gabled roof, a facade with a pediment, and a bell gable. Inside, a single nave covered by exposed trusses houses a large suspended Crucifix and, on the presbytery, the statues of Saint Anthony and Saint Peter, to whom the church is consecrated.

Three days of devotion and community

The festivities are traditionally spread over three days around the feast of Saints Peter and Paul. The program revolves around liturgical celebrations, with Holy Masses and moments of prayer dedicated to the patron saint, accompanied by the social gatherings that have always characterized Abruzzese district festivals: family reunions, outdoor convivial moments, and the intimate atmosphere of a hillside village in celebration.

Borgo Spoltino and the Selva Piana district

The festival is set within the landscape of Borgo Spoltino, which rises in the territory historically known as Selva dei Colli, between the Selva Piana and Selva Alta districts. It is a setting of great environmental and identity value, where the rural tradition of the Teramo hills remains alive. The San Pietro festivities represent an annual gathering for this community, where the small church returns to being the center of a deeply rooted devotion.

Part of the Mosciano Summer calendar

The event is part of the rich summer program of Mosciano Sant'Angelo, a season that offers patronal feasts, food festivals, historical re-enactments, concerts, and cultural events throughout the municipal territory from June to September. The San Pietro ad Spoltinum festivities effectively open this long season of events, bringing celebration to the heart of the Mosciano hills.