San Silverio Fishermen's Festival (Le Forna)

A winter festival, distinct from the June celebration

Those familiar with Ponza associate the name San Silverio with June 20th, when the entire island celebrates its patron saint at the height of the tourist season. However, there is a second, more intimate, and in many ways more authentic celebration: the San Silverio Fishermen's Festival, held on the last Sunday of February in the village of Le Forna, at the northern tip of the island, in the Municipality of Ponza, province of Latina, Lazio. This is not a scaled-down version of the main patronal feast; it is a celebration with its own history, established by the fishermen themselves.

Why February?

The origins date back to the mid-19th century. The men of Le Forna lived by fishing and, from March to September, would leave the island for long fishing campaigns in Sardinia, Corsica, the Tuscan coast, and even as far as La Galite, the islet off the African coast where a true Ponza colony was formed. Departing without the blessing of their patron saint was unthinkable, and returning in time for the June 20th celebration was equally impossible. Thus, the community moved its festival to February, before the departures. It is a choice that speaks volumes: here, the liturgical calendar bowed to the calendar of the sea.

The novena and the eve

The festival is not limited to Sunday alone. In the nine days leading up to it, the church of Maria Santissima Assunta in Cielo hosts the novena, featuring the display of the saint's statue and daily late-afternoon services. The Saturday eve is traditionally dedicated to children, with games and snacks after catechism—a way to bring generations together in a village that counts only a few hundred active residents during the winter.

Sunday: from the dawn bell to the fireworks

The festival day begins very early with the diana (dawn bell ringing) at seven in the morning, followed by the rosary and the first mass. In the mid-morning, a solemn mass is celebrated, which in recent years has been attended by the Archbishop of Gaeta and the island's civil and military authorities.

The heart of the day remains the afternoon procession: the statue of San Silverio leaves the small church and travels the road leading to Punta Incenso, accompanied by the island's brass band, before returning to the starting point. It is a procession without institutional pomp, made up of fishing families, hymns, and stops overlooking the winter sea. In the evening, there is musical entertainment in the square, fried zeppole, a few stalls selling sweets and toys, and finally, fireworks reflecting on the dark water.

What makes Le Forna special

• Seasonal authenticity: In February, Ponza belongs almost exclusively to the locals, and the festival maintains a community character that would be impossible in summer.
• Landscape: The procession takes place along a scenic route towards Punta Incenso, with the coves and cliffs of the northern coast as a backdrop.
• Migrant memory: The festival preserves the memory of the fishing campaigns towards La Galite and Sardinia, a little-known chapter of Lazio's maritime history.
• Open participation: All celebrations are free to attend and open to anyone on the island.

Ponza off-season

Reaching the island in February requires some planning, as ferry connections are reduced compared to summer and depend on sea conditions. But this is precisely why the Le Forna festival has remained unchanged: it is an event that has never become a tourist attraction and continues to speak, first and foremost, to the community that created it.