Sea Festival (Saint James)
Medieval pageants, procession, and ten thousand lanterns in the sea in Levanto
About Sea Festival
Levanto between history and the sea
The Sea Festival in honor of Saint James the Apostle, patron saint of sailors, is the major traditional event in Levanto, on the coast of the province of La Spezia. Founded in 1969, it commemorates the founding of the Municipality in 1230 and combines historical reenactment, religious devotion, and spectacle.
Medieval Pageants
The first day is dedicated to history: costumed groups parade through the center, while the historical pageant with ladies and knights of the Da Passano family reenacts the medieval past of the village. In the evening, Piazza Cavour hosts medieval tournaments, with sword fights, flag throwers, and tug-of-war.
The Procession and the Ten Thousand Lanterns
On July 25th, Saint James' Day, the procession takes place with the statue of the saint and the characteristic wooden crucifixes carried by the confraternities. In the evening, the striking ceremony at sea: the laying of a wreath in honor of the fallen, the illumination of the gulf with ten thousand floating lanterns, and the concluding fireworks. A moment of rare intensity that draws thousands of people to Levanto every year.
Sea Festival — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of Levanto's Sea Festival celebrates Saint James on July 24th and 25th. Recognized as an Authentic Ligurian Event 2026 and funded by the Liguria Region, the event combines historical reenactment, faith, and spectacle.
July 24th is dedicated to medieval historical pageants with ladies and knights of the Da Passano family and evening tournaments in Piazza Cavour. On July 25th, the procession and the striking sea ceremony with ten thousand floating lanterns and fireworks will provide a spectacular display.
Programme Sea Festival 2026
July 24th
- Morning — arrival of costumed groups and parade through the center
- Afternoon — historical pageant with ladies and knights of the Da Passano family
- Evening — medieval tournaments in Piazza Cavour: sword fights, flag throwers, tug-of-war
July 25th — Saint James' Day
- Procession with the statue of the saint and wooden crucifixes from the confraternities
- Sea ceremony with laying of the wreath in honor of the fallen
- Illumination of the gulf with ten thousand floating lanterns
- Concluding fireworks
Highlights Sea Festival 2026
Prices Sea Festival 2026
Practical information — Sea Festival
Where and When
The festival takes place in the historic center and on the seafront of Levanto on July 24th and 25th, around the feast day of Saint James.
How to Get There
Levanto is well-connected by train (station on the Genoa-La Spezia line, gateway to the Cinque Terre). Special trains are often scheduled during the festival.
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Where does it take place — Sea Festival
Centro storico e mare di Levanto