Sant'Orsola Festival

A devotion spanning centuries

The Sant'Orsola Festival is the patronal celebration of Marcorengo, an ancient hillside hamlet in the municipality of Brusasco, in the province of Turin, nestled in the heart of the Piedmontese landscape sloping down toward the Po River. The village, of Lombard origin (as evidenced by the suffix «-engo») and mentioned as early as 1164 in a diploma by Frederick Barbarossa, has preserved its authentic village identity. It is within this identity that the devotion to Saint Ursula is deeply rooted, remaining particularly vibrant among the local community.

The heart of the festival is the Church of Sant'Orsola, built in the first half of the 17th century and still a place of solace and affection for the community today. The saint's liturgical feast day falls on October 21st, which is why the festival is traditionally held on the Saturday and Sunday closest to that date. In 2026, the celebrations are scheduled for Saturday, October 17th, and Sunday, October 18th.

Rites, tradition, and conviviality

The program weaves together religious observance and popular festivities. The spiritual core remains the traditional mass followed by a procession through the village streets, accompanied by the local residents. Alongside this is one of the most characteristic and anticipated events: the cake auction (incanto della torta), an ancient custom where homemade cakes prepared for the occasion are auctioned off to support the community, amidst spirited bidding and laughter.

For several years now, the Pro Loco Marcorengo has enriched the festival with a convivial Saturday night dinner featuring polenta and wild boar—a hearty autumn dish that draws locals, residents of Brusasco, and visitors from the surrounding hills to the village. It is the perfect opportunity to gather around the table and extend the festivities beyond the religious rites.

Marcorengo and its festivals

The Sant'Orsola Festival is one of the key events marking the year for the Marcorengo community, alongside the Biru Festival, the early September Patronal Feast, the Bagna Cauda event in November, and other initiatives organized by the Pro Loco. Together, these events showcase a small yet lively village capable of keeping its traditions alive in the province of Turin. For those seeking an authentic festival far from the major tourist circuits, the Sant'Orsola celebration in Marcorengo is a perfect chance to discover a genuine corner of the Piedmontese hills.