The Oratory in Festa

An Open-Air Oratory on the Romagna Sea

For five days, at the beginning of September, Bellaria-Igea Marina, in the Province of Rimini, becomes the beating heart of Italian oratory sport. L'Oratorio in Festa is the major national event organized by A.N.S.P.I. (Associazione Nazionale San Paolo Italia), which brings together sports teams of all ages from all over Italy on the Romagna Riviera. Children, young people, animators, chaperones, and families — up to about two thousand participants per day in the most crowded editions — fill the squares and sports facilities of the town for days of sport, friendship, and fun, celebrating the values of the oratory.

Sport, Games, and Community

The core of the event is the large sports village set up in Piazzale Kennedy, renamed "the open-air oratory" for the occasion, along with the city's facilities like the Nanni Stadium. Here, the tournaments that make the event's history take place: 5-a-side football, 7-a-side football, beach volleyball, table football, and even eSports, all in an atmosphere of healthy competition and celebration. There are also moments for free play, animation activities, and areas designed for the youngest children, often open to non-registered children as well, because the whole town participates.

Evening Entertainment

Alongside sports, L'Oratorio in Festa also features music, theater, and grand evening events in the squares, especially in Piazza Don Minzoni and along the seafront. Each edition offers guests capable of attracting audiences of all ages: over the years, popular names from Italian television and music have performed. The Palazzo del Turismo also hosts training sessions and conferences dedicated to animators and oratory leaders.

A Deep Bond with the City

L'Oratorio in Festa and Bellaria-Igea Marina have built a special bond over time: the town in Emilia-Romagna has hosted the national review for over twenty years, welcoming the event as a true town festival that combines end-of-season seaside tourism, youth sports, and community dimension. For the municipal administration and ANSPI, the participants have "always been the salt and light" of the city during these September days.

• Where: Bellaria-Igea Marina (RN), Piazzale Kennedy, Piazza Don Minzoni, Stadio Nanni, Palazzo del Turismo
• When: Early September, five days
• Who: A.N.S.P.I. - Associazione Nazionale San Paolo Italia
• For whom: Oratories, parishes, sports groups, and families from all over Italy