Sant'Anna Patronal Feast

The most heartfelt festival in Castiglione Falletto

In the small village of Castiglione Falletto, in the Province of Cuneo, the Sant'Anna Patronal Feast is the annual event that brings the entire community together. It is celebrated around July 26th, the liturgical day dedicated to Saint Anne, mother of the Virgin Mary, and takes its name from the evocative Cappella dei Battuti, the religious building in the historic center consecrated to the saint. For a village of just over seven hundred inhabitants, perched on a hill among the Barolo vineyards, it is the moment when village life centers on its squares and streets.

Between faith and tradition

The festival began as a religious observance: the solemn mass in honor of the patron saint marks the heart of the day and draws the faithful from the village and surrounding hamlets. But in Castiglione Falletto, devotion has always been intertwined with the popular traditions of the Langhe, made up of gatherings, long tables, and games passed down from generation to generation.

The village sport: pallapugno alla pantalera

The most anticipated moment is the pallapugno alla pantalera challenge, the ancient elastic ball game still played today in front of the imposing walls of the Falletti castle. During the Sant'Anna festival, neighboring villages and towns face off in highly competitive matches: according to local custom, the losing team buys drinks for the winners in a spirit of healthy rivalry and great cheer. It is one of the most characteristic traditions of this corner of the Langhe, where pallapugno is deeply rooted in the local sports culture.

Langhe conviviality

As in many village festivals in Piedmont, the day in Castiglione Falletto closes with an open-air dinner, an opportunity for residents and those traveling here in search of the village's authentic atmosphere to gather. Between a glass of Barolo, the flagship product of these hills, and traditional Langhe dishes, the festival becomes an occasion to experience the village away from the most crowded tourist circuits.

A village in the heart of Barolo

Castiglione Falletto is located in the Langhe area, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and is one of the historic municipalities in the Barolo DOCG production zone. Its castle, with its thick walls and the cylindrical profile of its tower, dominates the landscape of vineyards that stretches as far as the eye can see toward Alba, Barolo, La Morra, and Serralunga d'Alba. Participating in the Sant'Anna Feast means discovering this territory in its truest dimension: that of a community that, once a year, celebrates itself and its roots.