Sant'Anna Festival (Casali di Roccapiemonte)

A deeply felt devotion in the Agro Nocerino Sarnese

In Casali, a populous district of the Municipality of Roccapiemonte, in the province of Salerno and thus in Campania, the Sant'Anna Festival is much more than a liturgical recurrence: it is the event that brings the entire community together every summer. The devotion to the mother of the Virgin Mary, the 'Grandma of Jesus' of southern popular piety, is rooted here for generations and finds its center in the parish of Santa Maria delle Grazie, where the statue carried in procession is kept.

The festival falls around the solemnity of Saints Joachim and Anne, on July 26th, but effectively spans about ten days: from the preparatory novena to the final evening. It is one of the most attended district patronal festivals in the Sarno Valley, capable of attracting faithful and visitors from neighboring towns of the Agro — Nocera Inferiore, Nocera Superiore, Castel San Giorgio, Mercato San Severino, and Pagani.

The religious heart: novena, vespers, and solemnity

The rhythm of the festival is dictated by the novena, which usually opens on July 17th. Every day, the community meets twice: in the morning for Holy Mass and in the evening for Vespers, often animated by guest preachers and celebrants from neighboring dioceses. It is not uncommon for the novena to be presided over or inaugurated by the Bishop of Nocera Inferiore-Sarno, Monsignor Giuseppe Giudice, and for the Archbishop of Sorrento-Castellammare di Stabia, Monsignor Francesco Alfano, to arrive in Casali during the central days.

The most anticipated moment is the blessing of the Water of Saint Anne, distributed to the faithful, along with the blessing imparted with the 'Hand of Saint Anne', the parish's symbolic relic: two gestures that call hundreds of people to the church every year, many of whom return to Casali from abroad specifically for these days. On the day of the solemnity, Eucharistic celebrations follow one another from dawn until dusk to allow everyone to participate.

Evening processions and secular program

The external part of the festival is equally defining. On the eve of the feast, the evocative torchlight procession takes place, connecting the church of San Potito to that of Casali late in the evening: a river of torches along the streets of the district. The Sunday following the solemnity is reserved for the solemn procession of the statue of Saint Anne, accompanied by the band and confraternities along streets decorated with traditional luminarie (light displays).

Closing the event is the final evening in Piazza Monsignor Grimaldi, featuring musical performances, the Sant'Anna lottery draw, and fireworks. In recent years, the stage has hosted well-known names of Italian music — in 2025, Mietta was the star — confirming a manifestation that knows how to combine devotional dimensions with popular entertainment. The calendar is supported by initiatives promoted by local associations, such as the ecological bike ride or the 'Sant'Anna in Festa' gastronomic exhibition set up near Palazzo Marciani by the Mente Cuore Forza association, with stands dedicated to local peasant recipes and the small 'Museum of our memories' exhibit.

Roccapiemonte, between the castle and the Sarno Valley

Roccapiemonte rises on the slopes of the mountain where the Sanseverino Castle stands, between Vesuvius and the Picentini Mountains, in one of the most densely populated areas of Campania. The town is divided into several historic districts — Casali, San Potito, Sant'Anna — each with its own church and festival: a mosaic of events that, from June to September, tells the identity of the Agro Nocerino Sarnese better than any guidebook.

Why visit

• An authentic patronal festival, not touristy, experienced primarily by the local community.
• The blessing of the Water and the 'Hand of Saint Anne', a unique rite in the Campanian landscape.
• The evening processions with torches and light displays, among the most photographed in the area.
• The final evening with live music and fireworks, with free admission.
• The opportunity to combine the visit with the Sanseverino Castle and the villages of the Agro.