Santa Maria di Vezzolano Patronal Feast

A village celebration at the foot of a medieval masterpiece

The Santa Maria di Vezzolano Patronal Feast is the most cherished event of the year for Albugnano, a village of a few hundred inhabitants perched on the Monferrato hills, in the Province of Asti and the heart of Piedmont. Every year, at the beginning of September, the community gathers around its patron saint for a weekend that blends devotion, tradition, and conviviality in one of the most evocative settings of the Asti hills.

The Abbey of Vezzolano, the soul of the feast

The focal point of the celebration is the Abbey of Santa Maria di Vezzolano: completed in 1189, it is considered one of the most important medieval monuments in Piedmont. Its Romanesque brick and sandstone facade, the famous rood screen (jubé) carved with the genealogy of Christ, and the 14th-century frescoed cloister make it a regional landmark for art lovers. Celebrating the patron saint here means experiencing the festival in a setting that unites popular faith and artistic heritage, just a stone's throw from the Monferrato vineyards.

What to do during the feast

While remaining a community-focused village festival, the municipal administration offers a calendar of initiatives each year that bring the village and the area around the Abbey to life. Recurring activities in recent editions include:

• Photography exhibitions dedicated to the local area and the Asti hills
• Bocce tournaments, a traditional sport deeply rooted in the Monferrato villages
• Hot air balloon rides to admire the vineyards and woods of the area from above
• Dog show and activities dedicated to families

These are accompanied by the convivial moments typical of Piedmontese patronal feasts, an opportunity to discover local products and hospitality.

Albugnano and Monferrato

Visiting Albugnano during the feast is also an opportunity to explore an authentic corner of the Piedmontese hills, among vine-covered slopes, forests, and small villages. The town, the highest in the area, offers sweeping views over the Monferrato hills and the Alps, and is located along the Romanesque routes of the Asti region that center on the Abbey of Vezzolano.