Santo Stefano Patronal Feast

A Reborn Patronal Feast

In Santo Stefano, a hillside hamlet in the municipality of Busca, in the province of Cuneo and the heart of Piedmont, the patronal feast is once again becoming the beating heart of the village. In 2026, a new Santo Stefano Committee, formed by nine local youths, decided to revitalize the hamlet starting with the return of the feast dedicated to its patron saint, Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr.

The initiative was born with a clear spirit: to revive a community and bring people together around the places and traditions that make it unique. The committee's board is led by president Ivano Falco, supported by vice-president Emilio Falco Brarda, secretary Stefania Ghio, and a group of councilors actively involved in the organization.

The Festival Venues

The setting is one of the most evocative in the Busca area. The hamlet stands on a hill overlooking the plains at the foot of the Maira Valley and guards a small artistic treasure: the Chapel of Santo Stefano, built between the 6th and 10th centuries next to the ancient castle complex, now known as Castellaccio. Already mentioned in 1216 as a parish and episcopal seat during pastoral visits, the chapel preserves the apse frescoes by the Biazaci brothers, Tommaso and Matteo—itinerant preacher-painters originally from Busca, active in the second half of the 15th century.

The frescoes narrate, with great narrative power, scenes from the cycle of Saint Stephen inspired by the Legenda Aurea, the Annunciation on the triumphal arch, and, in the apse basin, the Risen Christ within an iridescent mandorla surrounded by the symbols of the four Evangelists, along with a beautiful figure of Mary enthroned with the Child. Not far away is Ernesto Francotto Park, home to the pink Big Bench, a beloved viewpoint offering an open vista over the Cuneo plains.

The Spirit of the Event

The Santo Stefano patronal feast is a village event in the most authentic sense: a moment of gathering that weaves together the religious dimension, linked to devotion for the patron saint, with a convivial and popular atmosphere made of meetings, celebrations, and the rediscovery of the territory. For the hamlet, it represents much more than a simple anniversary: it is the tangible sign of a community getting back on its feet.

When It Takes Place

The 2026 edition is scheduled for August 4th, 5th, and 7th, 2026, in the hamlet of Santo Stefano di Busca. The detailed program for the days will be announced by the organizing committee in the weeks leading up to the event.