Festa di San Rocco
The traditional feast of San Rocco, patron saint of the sick and pilgrims, is held on August 16th and is a deeply cherished event for the people of Bolsena and the residents of Rione Borgo, the neighborhood where the beautiful fountain of San Rocco is set.
The day combines religious celebrations with popular festivities. In particular, during the afternoon, the much-anticipated traditional games for local children take place in the piazza of the same name, offering wholesome fun for everyone else as well. These are timeless folk games organized by the neighborhood residents. Among the most beloved are:
- who can finish a plate of pasta first using only their mouth with hands behind their back
- who can catch an apple from a basin filled with water
- who can break watermelons by jumping on them.
The festivities continue with a religious ceremony in honor of Saint Rocco: a mass that is traditionally held outdoors in Piazza San Rocco, accompanied by the sound of water flowing from the fountain and under the watchful eye of the saint’s icon.
The feast is also an opportunity to celebrate local tradition, with live music, dancing and gastronomy; particularly notable are the “frittelle” (fritters).
