Santa Maria Stella Maris Patronal Feast
The patronal feast of Lido del Faro, blending faith, the sea, and local tradition
About Stella Maris Feast
A celebration of sea, faith, and community
The Santa Maria Stella Maris Patronal Feast is the most cherished event of the year for the Lido del Faro district in Fiumicino, within the Metropolitan City of Rome, Lazio. Historically tied to the town's maritime heritage—its fishing port, docks, and the Fossa Traianea—the celebration honors the Virgin Mary under the title Stella Maris (Star of the Sea), invoked by fishermen, sailors, and families who have entrusted their livelihoods and history to the sea.
The festival is organized by the Santa Maria Stella Maris Parish in collaboration with the Festivities Committee, under the patronage of the Municipality of Fiumicino. This is not a tourist-driven event; it is a grassroots celebration born from and for the local community, preserving an authenticity often lost in larger manifestations.
The candlelight procession
The festival begins with a solemn outdoor Mass followed by the Candlelight Procession, which winds through the parish streets—Via Giorgio Giorgis, Via Formoso, Via Portunno, and Viale delle Meduse—carrying the Sacred Image of the Madonna accompanied by a brass band. The glow of candles along the streets of Lido del Faro, with illuminated windows and decorated balconies, reflects a community still deeply connected to its traditions.
The patronal day and tribute to the fallen
The climax occurs on Sunday. Following the afternoon Solemn Mass, the Sacred Image is carried in procession through the neighborhood streets before being placed on the harbor channel quay, near the Darsena bus terminus. As a patrol boat of the Rome Port Authority sails along the Fossa Traianea, a laurel wreath is cast into the water in honor of those lost at sea and on the river: a gesture that captures the very essence of Fiumicino, a city that has always lived with the risks and toil of the sea.
Music, shows, and evenings in the square
Alongside the religious dimension—the Triduum of prayer, daily Masses, and the celebration of Confirmations—the festival offers free nightly entertainment on the stage set up in the parish area: parish choir concerts, dance recitals, musical comedies, Roman folk music, and ballroom dancing, concluding on the final night with the traditional charity raffle draw.
Food stalls and games
From afternoon until late at night, the Committee's food stalls serve simple, traditional fare:
- Panini and porchetta
- Grilled meats and skewers
- Fried foods, pizza, and side dishes
- Seasonal fruit and grattachecca (shaved ice)
The event also features market stalls along the pedestrianized streets, rides for children, and the traditional fishing game with surprise prizes, a classic favorite among local families.
Why it's worth visiting
The Santa Maria Stella Maris Feast is the perfect opportunity to discover the lesser-known side of Fiumicino: beyond the airport and Rome's gateway, it is a maritime village with its own docks, seafood restaurants, lighthouse, and a community that unites every third week of June. Visitors from Rome can easily combine the festival with a day at the coast or a visit to the extraordinary Ports of Claudius and Trajan and the Ship Museum nearby.
Stella Maris Feast — edition 2026
2026 Edition
The patronal feast of Lido del Faro opened on Tuesday, June 16, with a concert by the parish choir in the church and reached its peak on Wednesday, June 17, with the solemn outdoor Mass and the Candlelight Procession along Via Giorgio Giorgis, Via Formoso, Via Portunno, and Viale delle Meduse.
From June 18 to 21, the Triduum of prayer, preparatory Masses, the celebration of Confirmations, and nightly stage performances took place next to the parish, alongside food stalls, market stalls, rides, and the fishing game. The program was curated by the parish priest Father Sergio De Angelis with the Festivities Committee, under the patronage of the Municipality of Fiumicino.
On the final Sunday, after the 5:30 PM Solemn Mass, the Sacred Image of the Madonna returned in procession through the neighborhood streets to the harbor channel quay, where a patrol boat of the Rome Port Authority sailed along the Fossa Traianea for the casting of the laurel wreath.
Programme Stella Maris Feast 2026
Tuesday, June 16
- 7:00 PM — Parish Choir concert in the church
Wednesday, June 17 — Opening
- 7:30 PM/8:30 PM — Solemn outdoor Mass
- Followed by — Candlelight Procession with the Sacred Image along Via Giorgio Giorgis, Via Formoso, Via Portunno, and Viale delle Meduse, accompanied by the band
Thursday, June 18
- 5:30 PM — Triduum of prayer
- 6:30 PM — Holy Mass
- From 7:00 PM — Opening of food stalls, market stalls, rides, and fishing game
- 9:00 PM — "Thru Ballet" dance performance on stage
Friday, June 19
- 5:30 PM — Triduum of prayer
- 6:30 PM — Holy Mass
- 9:00 PM — "Antonio Delle Donne Show", musical comedy with live band
Saturday, June 20
- 5:00 PM — Prayer
- 6:00 PM — Celebration of Confirmations
- 9:00 PM — Roman music concert with Serena D'Ercole
Sunday, June 21 — Patronal Feast
- 8:00 AM, 9:30 AM, 11:00 AM — Holy Masses
- 5:30 PM — Solemn Mass
- Followed by — Solemn procession to the harbor channel quay, near the Darsena bus terminus; patrol boat of the Rome Port Authority sails the Fossa Traianea for the casting of the laurel wreath in honor of those lost at sea and on the river
- 9:00 PM — Dance evening with Santino Strano
- 11:30 PM — Charity raffle draw
Highlights Stella Maris Feast 2026
- The Candlelight Procession on June 17 through the streets of Lido del Faro
- The final procession on June 21 to the harbor channel
- The casting of the laurel wreath in honor of the fallen at sea, with the Rome Port Authority patrol boat on the Fossa Traianea
- The Roman music concert with Serena D'Ercole
- The Committee's food stalls and the fishing game for children
- The charity raffle draw to close the festival
Prices Stella Maris Feast 2026
Practical information — Stella Maris Feast
Getting there
By car from Rome: Take the Rome-Fiumicino Motorway (A91) or Via Ostiense/Via Portuense, exit at Fiumicino Centro; follow signs for the Darsena to reach Lido del Faro. By train: Take the FL1 line to Fiumicino Airport, then a Cotral bus or local lines to Fiumicino Centro. By bus: The terminus is at the Darsena, just a short walk from the harbor channel.
Traffic
During the festival evenings, traffic closures and no-parking zones with towing are in effect on Via Giorgio Giorgis and Viale delle Meduse, typically from 6:00 PM to 2:00 AM. It is advisable to park in nearby streets and walk to the area.
Costs
Access to all religious celebrations and evening shows is free. Charges apply only for food stall purchases, fairground rides, and charity raffle tickets.
Tips
The evening of the final procession is the most crowded: arrive early to secure a spot at the harbor channel quay. Wear light clothing and comfortable shoes; a sea breeze can pick up by the canal in the evening.
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Where does it take place — Stella Maris Feast
Parrocchia Santa Maria Stella Maris — Lido del Faro
Via Giorgio Giorgis 116, 00054 Fiumicino