Sant'Antuono Festival - Festival of the Sant'Antuono Floats and the Battuglie di Pastellessa

A festival that defines a town's identity

In Macerata Campania, a small town in the province of Caserta, Campania, the Sant'Antuono Festival is far more than just an event: it is the moment the entire community tells its own story. Every January, around the feast day of Saint Anthony the Abbot (January 17th), the streets of the town center and its districts fill with monumental boat-shaped floats, percussive sounds, and thousands of visitors from across the region. It is a patronal feast, but also a grand re-enactment of the rural world that shaped this part of the Terra di Lavoro.

The Sant'Antuono Floats

The absolute stars are the Sant'Antuono floats, massive structures built by teams from various districts and hamlets, decorated with scenes inspired by the saint's life, peasant culture, and allegorical themes. Each float hosts a Battuglia di Pastellessa, a true folk orchestra made up of dozens of musicians. Preparation takes months and involves entire families: building a float in Macerata Campania is a commitment passed down through generations.

The Battuglie di Pastellessa and the bottari

On board the floats are the bottari, percussionists who play only three instruments: the botte (barrel), the tino (vat), and the falce (scythe). This combination creates what the locals call 'a musica 'e Sant'Antuono, a hypnotic, polyrhythmic soundscape that accompanies the parades for hours. The name pastellessa comes from past'e'llesse, the traditional dish of pasta and boiled chestnuts prepared during the festival days. The Battuglie are now recognized as intangible cultural heritage and have been the subject of university research and documentation projects promoted by the Sant'Antuono & le Battuglie di Pastellessa APS association.

A long-standing tradition

Local records trace the ritual's origins to the time when Macerata was inhabited primarily by artisans and farmers who, during weekly markets, would beat barrels and wooden tools to attract customers and demonstrate the quality of their products. Those sounds gradually refined into a ritual music linked to the cult of Saint Anthony the Abbot, protector of animals and the hearth. The festival is organized by the San Martino Vescovo Parish with the collaboration of the local association and the support of the Municipality.

More than just parades

The January calendar alternates the float processions with other deeply felt events:

• Traditional games in the town squares, including the famous soap-greased pole;
• Blessing of agricultural machinery and animals, a direct legacy of Saint Anthony the Abbot's patronage;
• Fireworks on the main day of the festival;
• Food areas and tastings of typical Caserta products, with past'e'llesse as the signature dish;
• Float awards ceremony on the final day, the most anticipated moment for the competing districts.

What to expect

First-time visitors are struck by the sonic intensity: the Battuglie play live, without amplification, and the rhythm of the barrels can be heard from afar long before the float comes into view. The evening parades, with illuminated floats moving slowly through crowds, are the most iconic image of the festival. It is a highly participatory event suitable for families, with daytime weekend slots being quieter and evening sessions significantly more crowded.

Macerata Campania and surroundings

Macerata Campania is located just a few kilometers from Caserta, making it easy to combine the festival with a visit to the Royal Palace of Caserta, the Belvedere of San Leucio, and the archaeological site of ancient Capua. The municipality also includes the hamlet of Caturano, which is involved in the parade routes and dining areas.