24 June – Patronal Feast San Giovanni

Every year, on 24 June, Torino celebrates the city’s patron saint, San Giovanni Battista, who has been the patron saint of the Piedmontese capital since ancient times. The election of San Giovanni Battista as the patron saint of Torino has very ancient origins. It is assumed to date back to the year 602, when Aginulfo, Duke of Torino, had a church built in his honour. The celebrations, on the other hand, date back to the Middle Ages and involved the entire population in various celebrations such as dances, songs, banquets and religious appointments.

Torino awaits you to celebrate this important city event on 24 June 2023 in the squares and streets of the city centre.

The programme of the Festa di San Giovanni 2023 in Torino includes classic events such as the historical procession in period costumes through the streets of the city centre and the famous FARO’ (bonfire) in the afternoon and evening of 23 June, and fireworks and other events on Saturday 24 June 2023.

The festival coincides with the rising solstice, which in the pagan world symbolised a rite of passage that brought the Earth from lunar to solar dominance during the shortest night of the year. In the centre of the Farò is placed the silhouette of a bull, which, depending on the direction in which it falls, will bring good or bad luck to the city during the year that follows. Legend has it that if the silhouette of the bull falls towards Porta Nuova, the coming year will be auspicious for the city, while if it falls in the opposite direction it will be an unlucky year for Torino.

The complete programme for the Festa di San Giovanni 2023, with all the timetables and activities, will be announced om the next week