San Silvano Patronal Festival

The Patron Saint festival of Romagnano Sesia

The San Silvano Patronal Festival is the most cherished event of the year for Romagnano Sesia, an ancient village in the Province of Novara overlooking the Valsesia valley in Piedmont. Celebrated annually around July 10th, the Saint's liturgical day, the festival honors San Silvano Martyr, the town's patron, whose relics have been kept in the Abbey Church since the 11th century.

San Silvano, patron of Romagnano

Tradition identifies San Silvano as one of the seven sons of Saint Felicity, who were martyred in Rome alongside their mother during the persecutions. The first record of the Saint's relics in Romagnano dates back to 1040, when a deed of donation was drafted at the Benedictine monastery dedicated to San Silvano. Since then, the bond between the village and its Patron has remained unbroken, making this festival a pillar of local identity.

The religious program

The spiritual heart of the festival is marked by a novena that guides the community from the first days of July until the eve of the patronal day, featuring prayers and the singing of the San Silvano hymn. The most solemn moments include:

• The procession through the historic center, crossing Piazza Libertà, Corso Marconi, and Piazza Cavour, starting from the Abbey Church;
• The High Mass presided over by the Abbot Provost and concelebrated with the local clergy, accompanied by the choir and the Abbey Polyphonic Schola;
• The opening of the niche containing the relics, a moment of intense popular devotion on July 10th.

The village festival

Alongside the religious dimension, the Pro Loco of Romagnano Sesia, with the support of the Municipality and the collaboration of local associations, enlivens the village with a rich secular program. The town squares fill with long tables for the San Silvano dinners and a roving aperitivo across local bars, while the evenings feature concerts, dance nights with ballroom orchestras, and the unmissable Town Band concert on the Abbey parvis. There is also a fair, food stalls, and solidarity initiatives organized by local groups.

A village to discover

The festival is also the perfect opportunity to visit Romagnano Sesia, with its Abbey Church, the famous historical re-enactment of the Passion, and the food and wine heritage of the Novara Hills. A journey into Piedmontese popular tradition, where faith, history, and conviviality merge into one great celebration.