Celebrazione della Virgo Fidelis (Incisa Scapaccino)

Why it's special

The patron of Italy's Carabinieri is honoured here in the home town of Giovanni Battista Scapaccino, the first Carabiniere awarded the Gold Medal for Military Valour. The province's Carabinieri come up to this hilltop sanctuary in Borgo Villa for it every year. In 2025 the interregional and regional commanders came too.

Programme · 2025

Afternoon Mass at the Santuario della Virgo Fidelis, celebrated by the military chaplains, with prayers for serving Carabinieri and for the Arma's fallen. Present: the Interregional Commander 'Pastrengo' Gen. Riccardo Galletta, the Piedmont and Valle d'Aosta Legion commander, the Asti provincial commander, serving Carabinieri and the local veterans' associations.

• It's a Mass with military and civil authorities rather than a festa.
• Members of the public can attend, but it's a solemn occasion.
• The sanctuary is up in Borgo Villa, the old upper quarter of Incisa.
• If you come, pair it with the [Scapaccino commemoration](/events/commemorazione-del-carabiniere-scapaccino) story at the monument in the town below.

On 21 November Italy's Carabinieri honour their patron, Maria Virgo Fidelis, the Virgin "faithful through the ages", which is also the corps' motto. In the province of Asti the celebration happens in Incisa Scapaccino, at the sanctuary of the Virgo Fidelis in Borgo Villa. The choice of place isn't an accident. Incisa is the home town of Giovanni Battista Scapaccino, the first Carabiniere to win the Gold Medal for Military Valour, and the town takes its name partly from him.

The celebration is a Mass said by the military chaplains, with prayers for the Carabinieri on duty and for the fallen of the Arma. It brings an unusual weight of uniform to a small hill village. In 2025 the interregional and regional commanders attended alongside the provincial command, serving officers and the veterans' associations.

It isn't a tourist event, but it's one of the moments when you can see what Scapaccino still means to the town. It's always around 21 November. Recent dates are in the table above.