San Rocco Festival / Borgo Festival
The mid-August celebration in the ancient village at the foot of Castello Piccolomini
Edition 2026 not confirmed to date
This edition has not been confirmed by the organiser to date. We recommend checking before going.
About San Rocco Balsorano Vecchio
A village festival in the heart of the Marsica region
The San Rocco Festival, accompanied by the Borgo Festival, is the most anticipated summer event in Balsorano Vecchio, the medieval district of the Municipality of Balsorano, in the province of L'Aquila, nestled in the heart of the Abruzzo Marsica. Every year, around August 16th—the date the Church celebrates Saint Roch—the old village perched at the foot of the striking Castello Piccolomini comes alive for one of the most popular celebrations in the Valle Roveto.
Piazza Piccolomini, the heart of the festivities
The nerve center of the celebrations is Piazza Piccolomini, the main square that opens up just below the castle walls. Here, the San Rocco Festival Committee of Balsorano Vecchio, in collaboration with the local Pro Loco, sets up the stage that has hosted nationally renowned artists over the years: from concerts by Dolcenera and Enrico Ruggeri to performances by Giusy Ferreri and I Cugini di Campagna, as well as cabaret shows with the Abruzzese comedian Nduccio. As local reports often note, the square is consistently "packed with people" during the festival's peak evenings.
Devotion, music, and gastronomy
The festival blends religious devotion—honoring Saint Roch—with a grand community celebration. The Borgo Festival complements the evening concerts with food stalls offering traditional Marsican and Abruzzese products, enlivening the streets and alleys of the historic center. The summer program also includes entertainment for all ages, making these days a perfect gathering point for residents, returning emigrants, and visitors alike.
The village and its castle
The exceptional backdrop for these festivities is Balsorano Vecchio itself, a medieval village dominated by the Castello Piccolomini, one of the most photographed fortresses in Abruzzo. The San Rocco Festival is the perfect opportunity to rediscover the historic center, its churches, and its picturesque corners during one of the liveliest evenings of the summer in the province of L'Aquila.
San Rocco Balsorano Vecchio — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of the San Rocco Festival and the Borgo Festival in Balsorano Vecchio does not yet have an official program. As per tradition, the festival is expected to take place around August 16th in Piazza Piccolomini, featuring evenings of music, cabaret, and gastronomy organized by the San Rocco Festival Committee. The detailed calendar and guest artists will be announced by the committee in the weeks leading up to the event.
Prices San Rocco Balsorano Vecchio 2026
Practical information — San Rocco Balsorano Vecchio
Location
Piazza Piccolomini, Balsorano Vecchio, a district of the Municipality of Balsorano (AQ), Abruzzo. The square is located at the foot of Castello Piccolomini, in the heart of the ancient village.
When
The festivities take place every year around August 16th, the feast day of Saint Roch.
Admission
Events in the square are traditionally free of charge.
How to get there
Balsorano can be reached via the A24/A25 motorway (Avezzano or Sora exit) and the SS690 Avezzano-Sora road. For major concerts, the committee has previously organized a shuttle service from the center of Balsorano to the ancient village.
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Where does it take place — San Rocco Balsorano Vecchio
Piazza Piccolomini, Balsorano Vecchio
Piazza Piccolomini, 67052 Balsorano