Sant'Ippolito Patronal Feast

A celebration of faith on the Cinque Miglia Plateau

The Sant'Ippolito Patronal Feast is the most heartfelt religious event of the year in Roccaraso, a renowned mountain destination in the province of L'Aquila, Abruzzo. Saint Hippolytus, a priest and martyr from the early centuries of Christianity, is the town's protector and is celebrated on August 13th, during the peak of the summer season when the Cinque Miglia Plateau welcomes thousands of vacationers.

The celebration unites the permanent community of the Municipality of Roccaraso with the many tourists who choose the Alto Sangro for the cool air at 1,250 meters above sea level, creating an atmosphere of deep, moving devotion that fills the town center.

The solemn mass and procession

The centerpiece of the festival is the solemn mass held in the Church of Santa Maria Assunta, the town's parish church, which fills with faithful and visitors united in prayer for the occasion. Following the service, the community accompanies the silver bust of the saint in a procession through the streets. This exquisite piece of Neapolitan goldsmithing from 1688 depicts the young Roman soldier and houses the martyr's relics, adorned with symbols of the palm of martyrdom and the Arabian phoenix, an image of eternal rebirth.

The procession is traditionally organized by the Festival Committee, entrusted each year to a specific age group of local residents, a custom that renews the bond between the generations of Roccaraso and their community identity.

Summer music and entertainment

Around the patronal date, the Municipality of Roccaraso creates a rich summer calendar of events that complements the religious festival with concerts, shows, fairs, and craft markets spread across the various squares and hamlets, from Piazza G. Leone to the Pratone. Pop music, cabaret, and cultural events frame the festival days, transforming the Sant'Ippolito celebration into a social gathering that extends well beyond its liturgical roots.

Roccaraso, the pearl of the Alto Sangro

Celebrating Sant'Ippolito is also an opportunity to rediscover one of the most famous villages in the Abruzzo Apennines. Rebuilt after the destruction of World War II, Roccaraso is now one of the capitals of mountain tourism in Central Italy, appreciated in winter for its ski slopes and in summer for hiking and its cool climate. The patronal feast is the ideal time to experience the town in its most authentic form, amidst popular faith, traditions, and Abruzzese hospitality.