San Rocco Festival in Montella

San Rocco, the patron saint of Montella

In Montella, a village of just over seven thousand inhabitants nestled at an altitude of 560 meters in the heart of the Picentini Mountains, in the province of Avellino (Campania), San Rocco is the patron saint, and his feast day falls on August 16th. It is the most anticipated event of the Montella summer: in the middle of August, the town fills with families, emigrants returning for the holidays, and visitors from neighboring towns in the Alta Irpinia region.

The cult of San Rocco, invoked throughout Italy as a protector against epidemics, has been rooted in the southern Apennines for centuries. In Montella, this devotion is expressed above all in the procession that accompanies the statue of the saint along the streets of the town center, amidst crowds, flowers, and brass bands: a ritual that is repeated from generation to generation and which, more than any other, defines the community's identity.

The day of August 16th

The festival follows the traditional structure of Irpinian patronal feasts, with religious and secular elements alternating throughout the day:

• liturgical celebrations and the solemn mass in honor of the patron saint;
• the procession with the statue of San Rocco through the town streets, the central moment of popular devotion;
• the luminarie (festive lights) and decorations that illuminate the squares and alleys of the historic center;
• the evening show in the square, featuring music, cabaret, or concerts open to everyone.

The heart of the secular festival is Piazza Bartoli, which in recent years has hosted the main event of August 16th: in 2025, for instance, the Pro Loco Montella Alto Calore brought the comedy show of Biagio Izzo, attracting a massive audience to the square.

A land of chestnuts, forests, and monasteries

Those arriving in Montella for San Rocco discover one of the greenest municipalities in Campania: nearly 59% of its 83 square kilometers is covered by forests, and over 16% is occupied by chestnut groves. The Montella Chestnut is a recognized excellence—the first Italian fruit and vegetable DOC in 1987, and later IGP in 1997—and is enjoyed boiled (the «valani»), roasted (the «varole»), or dried and ground for winter soups.

Within a few kilometers, one can visit the Convent of San Francesco a Folloni, a national monument whose foundation tradition dates back to 1222, and the Monte Monumental Complex, with the church of Santa Maria della Neve, overlooking the town from above. Just above it lies the Verteglia plateau, a classic destination for summer hikes.

Part of the «Montella Summer» program

The San Rocco Festival is not an isolated event: it is part of the rich Montella Summer program, promoted by the Municipality of Montella together with local associations. In the 2025 edition, the calendar accompanied the entire season with the Festa delle Stese, the Mangialonga on the Picentini Mountains, food festivals and street food events, stargazing nights, the Cavatello Festival, and the Beer Festival at the end of August. Those who choose to spend a few days in the town around August 16th will therefore find much more than just a single evening of celebration.

Information and updates

The detailed program of the patronal feast is released every year in the weeks leading up to it by the Municipality of Montella and the Pro Loco Montella Alto Calore, together with the parish, through official channels and posters displayed in the town. It is worth checking before you leave, as the times of the procession and the name of the evening's guest change from year to year.