Santa Maria di Nazareth Feast - Terrasanta

A neighborhood feast in the heart of Casalotti

The Santa Maria di Nazareth Feast - Terrasanta is the patronal feast of the parish of the same name in Casalotti, a district in the northwestern suburbs of Rome, within the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, in the Lazio region. It traditionally takes place on the third Sunday of June and occupies the grounds of the parish at Via di Boccea 590, where the church was inaugurated in 2015.

Faith and community: the roots of the feast

The parish was established in 1970 following an agreement between the Diocese of Porto-Santa Rufina and the Custody of the Holy Land: this explains the double name by which the neighborhood still knows it today, Terrasanta. The original complex housed the International College of the Holy Land, built in 1960 as a Franciscan seminary. This origin explains why the patronal feast is not just a neighborhood fair, but a strong identity-building moment for a community that has grown rapidly alongside the urban fabric of Casalotti.

The religious program

The spiritual heart of the feast is marked by a preparation period leading up to the patronal Sunday: a triduum of preparation, Eucharistic celebrations, and vespers accompany the faithful until the solemn day. On Sunday, morning masses are held, followed in the afternoon by the solemn thanksgiving mass.

• Triduum of preparation on weekdays
• Daily masses and vespers
• Recitation of the Rosary on Sunday afternoon
• Solemn thanksgiving mass

The procession and fireworks

The most anticipated moment is the solemn procession with the statue of Santa Maria di Nazareth, which on the final evening travels through the neighborhood streets accompanied by the faithful, parish groups, and the local band. Upon returning to the parish, the feast traditionally concludes with a fireworks display, which draws even those who did not attend the earlier celebrations, filling the square and surrounding streets.

The festive evenings

Alongside the liturgical program, the Patronal Feast Committee organizes three evenings of festivities in the parish's outdoor spaces: live music and dancing for all ages, entertainment for children, and food stands serving Roman and Lazio cuisine, desserts, beer, and drinks. Over the years, there have also been cultural and sports initiatives and afternoons dedicated to children, with workshops and outdoor games. Admission is free: you only pay for what you consume at the stands, and the proceeds support the parish's activities.

A volunteer-run event

The entire organizational machine relies on the Patronal Feast Committee, a group of volunteers who work throughout the year on fundraising initiatives to finance the event. This aspect speaks volumes about the spirit of the occasion: no commercial production, but a feast built by the inhabitants for the inhabitants, where the neighborhood recognizes itself and comes together.

Why visit

For those visiting Rome, the Santa Maria di Nazareth Feast is an opportunity to see a city different from the tourist circuits: the Rome of neighborhoods, suburban parishes, and patronal feasts that survive with vitality. Those arriving from the center will find a simple, welcoming, and genuinely popular atmosphere, just a few kilometers from the Grande Raccordo Anulare.