St Martin's Day Festival in Castignano
Three November days in the hamlet named after the saint, among the hills and clay badlands of southern Marche
By Salvatore Giuliano Published Updated
The story
San Martino is one of the hamlets of Castignano, a small cluster of houses in the hills about two kilometres west of the main village. This is where the Associazione San Martino, the local volunteer association, holds its St Martin's Day festival, which in 2026 runs over three days: Wednesday 11 November, the saint's feast day, and then Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 November, all in the San Martino district. The same association keeps the hamlet busy the rest of the year too: in June 2025 it ran a three-day festival with food stalls, a briscola card tournament, the rosary and Mass, and in September 2026 it hosted the dinner stop for a Festival dell'Appennino hike through the badlands from San Martino to the Montemisio shrine.
The saint is Martin of Tours, the Roman soldier who, legend has it, cut his cloak in half to clothe a beggar and later became bishop of Tours. His feast on 11 November fell at the end of the farming year, when work in the fields wound down and the new wine was first tasted, which is why across central Italy St Martin's Day means chestnuts and wine. The cloak scene is exactly what the 2026 poster shows: the saint in armour on a white horse, next to pictures of chestnuts, an accordion and two glasses of red wine.
In Castignano the link with chestnuts goes back to the village's very name, thought to come from an ancient chestnut wood mentioned by Pliny. A detailed programme for the 2026 festival, with times and menu, has not been published: the poster gives only the dates and the place, so it's worth checking times with the Associazione San Martino before you go.
Schedule
- St Martin's Day: first day of the festival in the San Martino district
- Saturday: the festival resumes in the San Martino district
- Sunday: closing day of the festival
The official schedule for 2026 has not been published yet, so the dates shown are provisional. We will update this page as soon as the calendar is announced.
What to eat
The 2026 menu hasn't been published. The poster features chestnuts and red wine, the traditional flavours of St Martin's Day in the Marche.
Castignano is also home to green anise, a Slow Food Presidium grown on the clay badlands: its seeds flavour anisetta liqueur, sugared almonds and ciambelline, ring-shaped biscuits worth looking for in the village shops.
Local tips
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Parking
The festival takes place in the San Martino district, outside the centre of Castignano, but no dedicated parking has been announced: follow the signs on the day.
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Payments
It hasn't been stated whether the stalls take cards, so bring some cash.
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Crowds and timing
Times for the three days haven't been published: before setting off, especially on Wednesday 11, check with the Associazione San Martino. Nothing is scheduled on 12 and 13 November.
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What to wear
In mid-November, evenings in the Piceno hills are cold: dress in layers.
Weather forecast
Data: Open-Meteo
Getting there
The San Martino district is about two kilometres from the centre of Castignano. From the Adriatic coast, drive up from Grottammare (about 24 km); the nearest airports are Pescara, about 99 km away, and Ancona Falconara, about 115 km away.
Things to do this weekend in the Marche →
Frequently asked questions
When is the St Martin's Day festival in Castignano in 2026?
On three days: Wednesday 11 November, St Martin's Day, then Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 November. Nothing is planned on 12 and 13 November.
Where does the festival take place?
In San Martino, a hamlet of Castignano about two kilometres from the main village, in the province of Ascoli Piceno.
Who organises the festival?
The Associazione San Martino, the local association that also ran a summer festival in the hamlet in June 2025.
Is there a programme with times?
Not yet: the official poster gives only the dates and the place. For times, contact the Associazione San Martino.
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