Sant'Antonino Patronal Feast (Sant'Antonino Fair)

A patronal feast that defines a village's identity

September 2nd is the date that, for generations, has marked the calendar of Pico, a small town of just over 2,500 inhabitants in the province of Frosinone, in the heart of the Ciociaria region and the Lazio region. On this day, the community gathers around Saint Antoninus the Martyr, the town's patron saint along with Saint Marina, with a celebration that weaves together liturgy, popular tradition, and commerce: the Sant'Antonino Patronal Feast, historically accompanied by the Sant'Antonino Fair.

The shoulder-borne procession in the historic center

The most anticipated moment is the procession: the saint's statue is carried on the shoulders of the faithful through the concentric alleys and stairways that climb toward the fortress, concluding the route in the town's main square. The path winds through the medieval settlement, past ancient walls and the San Rocco gate, reaching the Church of Saint Antoninus the Martyr, a building of ancient origins—local sources date its foundation to before the year 1000—later remodeled in Baroque style.

The procession is preceded and followed by liturgical celebrations in honor of the patron saint and involves confraternities, a marching band, and the entire population, including families of Pico origin who return to the village specifically for September 2nd.

The fair and the secular side of the feast

Alongside the religious events, the day retains the character of a village fair: stalls occupy the streets and spaces of the center, offering various goods, sweets, handicrafts, and local gastronomic products. It is a social occasion that recalls the ancient September fairs, when the patron saint's feast coincided with the end of summer agricultural work and the exchange of the earth's produce.

• Procession of the statue of Saint Antoninus carried on shoulders
• Solemn Mass and celebrations in the patron saint's church
• Fair with stalls along the streets of the historic center
• Convivial moments and celebrations in the main square

Pico, a village among the Aurunci Mountains

Pico is one of the most evocative villages in the province of Frosinone: included in the Most Beautiful Villages of Italy circuit and overlooking the Monti Aurunci Natural Park, it is surrounded by olive groves and vineyards. Its urban layout, which developed between the 10th and 11th centuries around the castle, consists of narrow streets and stairways climbing in a pyramid shape—an image that the poet Eugenio Montale captured in his Elegia di Pico Farnese, written after his visit in 1939. The writer Tommaso Landolfi was also born here in 1908, and a Literary Park is dedicated to him, guiding visitors along the paths of the village and the mountain.

A calendar of festivals all year round

The September 2nd feast is part of a cycle of deeply felt anniversaries in Pico: the Feast of Saint Marina, the other patron saint, on July 17th; the Procession of Saint Roch on August 16th, linked to the end of a plague epidemic and the traditional offering of bread; and the Estate picana (Pico Summer) with events between mid-July and mid-August. In addition, there is the Pico Rally, a historic car race held since 1979, and autumn events related to wine.

Why visit

Those who arrive in Pico on September 2nd will find an authentic festival, free of tourist filters: a still-vibrant popular devotion, a stone village lit up with festive lights, and a community that opens its doors. It is the best way to discover the most genuine side of Ciociaria, just a short distance from the major transport routes between Rome and Naples.