Solemn Celebrations of Saint Anthony the Abbot

Five centuries of devotion

In Monterotondo, within the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, the Solemn Celebrations of Saint Anthony the Abbot are more than just a date on the calendar: they are the defining identity event for the 'eretini', as the town's inhabitants are known. This tradition has been passed down for centuries and, according to local chronicles, has only been interrupted by war and the pandemic.

The roots of the festival lie in the Antonian cult widespread throughout Lazio: the Antonian order had been granted permission to raise pigs within inhabited areas, as the fat from these animals was used to treat those suffering from what was known as 'Saint Anthony's fire'. This explains the unbreakable bond between the saint, the animals, and their blessing, which remains one of the most attended moments of the entire event today.

The 'Signore della Festa'

The element that makes the Monterotondo festival unique is the figure of the Signore della Festa (Lord of the Festival). Each year, a devotee—chosen from a long list of candidates who may wait years for their turn—is entrusted with the Sacred Image of the saint, keeping it in their home for twelve full months until the following January. The handover between the outgoing and incoming 'Signore' is the emotional heart of the solemn Sunday, experienced with a level of participation that involves entire families and generations.

Equestrian parade and torchlight procession

Two rituals define the main day. The equestrian parade winds through the city streets immediately after the animal blessing: horses, riders, and participants of all ages parade, accompanied in recent editions by a detachment of the 4th Carabinieri Mounted Regiment and vehicles from the Tor Mancina center. It is an equestrian procession that blends military solemnity with popular spontaneity, drawing enthusiasts and breeders from across the Sabina territory.

At nightfall, the torchlight procession takes place: hundreds of people with lit torches accompany the Sacred Image along the alleys of the historic center to the home of the new 'Signore della Festa'. The darkness, the fire, and the hushed silence of the crowd create an atmosphere that leaves a lasting impression on anyone who witnesses it.

A ten-day program

The solemn Sunday is the centerpiece of a rich calendar that begins shortly after Epiphany. It includes conferences, cultural meetings, a three-day preparation period with masses led by local parish priests, evening processions, concerts, and performances by the historic « Eretina » Musical Band, which accompanies almost every public moment. Recent years have also seen the addition of cultural initiatives, such as the presentation of a digital archive dedicated to the festival's history.

• Opening conference and cultural meetings
• Three-day preparation period at the Santa Maria Maddalena parish
• Processions from the home of the 'Signore della Festa' to the Cathedral
• Solemn mass, often presided over by high-ranking ecclesiastical figures
• Blessing of animals and equestrian parade through the city streets
• Evening torchlight procession in the historic center
• Requiem mass and distribution of blessed bread

Organization

The event is managed by the Pia Unione di Sant'Antonio Abate, the historic association of the saint's 'brothers', in close collaboration with the Santa Maria Maddalena parish and the Municipality of Monterotondo, which supports the event and handles institutional communication. The festival has long been a subject of anthropological study: as early as the 1980s, a scientific monograph was dedicated to it, a sign of how deeply this ritual is considered an intangible heritage of the Lazio region.

Why visit

For those visiting Rome and its surroundings in mid-winter, Monterotondo offers an authentic and free experience, far from the usual tourist circuits. The historic center, perched on the first hills of the Sabina region about thirty kilometers from the capital, is easily accessible and offers remarkable views, especially during the torchlight procession. It is a rare opportunity to see up close how an Italian community continues to build its identity around a shared ritual.