Sant'Eligio Festival

A festival at the heart of Chiusa di Pesio

In the town of Chiusa di Pesio, nestled at the entrance to the Pesio Valley in the province of Cuneo, the Sant'Eligio Festival is one of the most cherished local traditions. For three days, the town unites around its patron saint, celebrated by a community that proudly upholds ancient rites, overseen by the Compagnia di Sant'Eligio, the congregation that preserves and organizes the event.

Who was Saint Eligius?

Saint Eligius is the protector of those who work with metals and roads: farriers, goldsmiths, mechanics, haulers, and carters. This gives the Chiusa di Pesio festival its unique character, deeply tied to the world of labor and transport. The most anticipated moment remains the evocative blessing of the vehicles, which draws participants and their trucks and cars from far beyond the town borders every year.

Traditional Rites

The common thread of the festival is continuity: the celebration opens with a floral tribute at the cemetery in memory of the deceased members of the Compagnia, continues with the characteristic Cambio della Bandiera in Piazza Cavour—symbolizing the handover between the 'priori' and 'massari'—and culminates with Holy Mass in the Parish Church. Popular devotion thus intertwines with conviviality, through social lunches, toasts, and evenings spent together.

A United Community

In Chiusa di Pesio, holding an organizational role within the Compagnia is considered a great honor; it is said there is even a waiting list to become a 'priore' or 'massaro'. This is the clearest testament to how deeply this festival belongs to the identity of the town and the Pesio Valley in Piedmont, and how it successfully engages different generations around a shared heritage.