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🔔 The Italian Almanac

September 2

Stories and curiosities for September 2, from the Italy of a thousand bell towers.

Bell-tower rivalries

Arancino or arancina? Sicily's fried-rice grammar war

In Catania and Messina, on Sicily's eastern side, the stuffed fried rice ball is arancinu — masculine, and often cone-shaped; in Palermo it is arancina, feminine and round like an orange. The dish, traced back to Arab-ruled Sicily and its introduction of rice and saffron, splits the island in a patchwork rather than in half: Ragusa and Siracusa, though eastern, side with the feminine. Asked to referee, the Accademia della Crusca, Italy's language authority, ruled with perfect diplomacy: both forms are correct. Italy's register of traditional food products lists it as 'arancini di riso'. The derby goes on.

📍 Discover Catania

Today's tidbits

Place names 1933

The Umbrian village called Bastardo (yes, really)

Along the ancient via Flaminia in Umbria, central Italy, a post station was known as the Osteria del Bastardo — the Bastard's Inn. A settlement grew up around it and inherited the name: today Bastardo is a village in the municipality of Giano dell'Umbria, in the province of Perugia. As early as 1933 there were moves to change it, and over the years the proposals piled up: Villa Romana, Lignilia, even Termoelettropoli. None of the attempts succeeded. On Umbria's road signs, between one saint and one castle, drivers still read Bastardo.

📍 Giano dell'Umbria →
Italian records 1934

Italy's highest town hall sits at 2,035 metres

Sestriere, in the Alps of Piedmont west of Turin, holds the record as Italy's highest municipality: the measure is the altitude of the town hall, 2,035 metres above sea level, in a territory that climbs to 3,280. It is also a remarkably young comune: it was created by royal decree on 18 October 1934, stitching together the lands of the former comune of Champlas du Col, the hamlet of Borgata taken from Pragelato and territory of Sauze di Cesana. Its administrative life began on 1 January 1935 — a municipality drawn up at a desk, and a record-holder from day one.

📍 Sestriere →

🎉 Celebrations today in… 16

16 towns with a guide celebrate their patron saint on September 2

Sant'Antonino 7

Quattro CastellaEmilia-Romagna Fara in SabinaLazio Castelnuovo di PortoLazio PicoLazio ViticusoLazio LucinascoLiguria CapraunaPiedmont

Sant'Antonino di Apamea 4

PolverigiMarche Occhieppo InferiorePiedmont Casanova LerroneLiguria VendoneLiguria

Other saints of the day 5

Muro Lucanosan Gerardo Maiella · Basilicata Villavallelongasan Leucio · Abruzzo Naturnosan Zeno · Trentino-South Tyrol Monte Porzio Catonesant'Antonino Martire · Lazio Sant'Elpidio a Maresant'Elpidio Abate · Marche
Patron saint festival 📍 Piana degli Albanesi

Feast of Maria Santissima Odigitria

📅 Every year on 2 September, with celebrations from the last days of August

The patron saint's day falls on 2 September, with the eparch's pontifical liturgy in the morning and an evening procession of the Madonna's statue; festivities start in late August.

Patron saint festival In 310 days 📍 Muro Lucano

Feast of Saint Gerard Majella

📅 Every year, on 2 September

On 2 September Muro Lucano celebrates Saint Gerard Majella, who was born here: his house is in the Pianello quarter, and in the evening the path he walked as a child is lit up.

Patron saint festival In 310 days 📍 Villavallelonga

Feast of San Leucio

📅 Every year, on 2 September

On 2 September Villavallelonga, a municipality of 936 inhabitants in the province of L'Aquila, celebrates its patron San Leucio.

Patron saint festival In 310 days 📍 Viticuso

Feast of Sant'Antonino

📅 Every year, on 2 September

On 2 September Viticuso, a municipality of 372 inhabitants in the province of Frosinone, celebrates its patron Sant'Antonino.

Patron saint festival In 310 days 📍 Caprauna

Feast of Sant'Antonino

📅 Every year, on 2 September

On 2 September Caprauna, a municipality of 120 inhabitants in the province of Cuneo, celebrates its patron Sant'Antonino.

Patron saint festival In 310 days 📍 Torre de' Passeri

Saint Antoninus and the feast of the Holy Cross

📅 Every year, from 2 to 4 September, together with the Holy Cross

Torre de' Passeri celebrates Saint Antoninus the Martyr, patron of the town, together with the Holy Cross between 2 and 4 September, with religious services, processions, music events and illuminations.

Patron saint festival In 310 days 📍 Quattro Castella

Saint Antoninus, patron of the land of Matilda of Canossa

📅 Every year, on 2 September; in May the Matildic Historical Parade features the town's districts

Quattro Castella celebrates Saint Antoninus on 2 September. In May, the Corteo Storico Matildico is held, a historical reenactment featuring the town's districts: the Knights of Matilda, the Villagers' group, the Flag-Bearers and Musicians, the Maestà della Battaglia, and the districts of Borgoleto and Monticelli.

Patron saint festival In 310 days 📍 Naturno

Saint Zeno, patron of the autumn Törggelen

📅 Every year, on 2 September, in the land of the autumn Törggelen

Naturno celebrates Saint Zeno on 2 September, in the church dedicated to him. The town also hosts «Naturno ride», a comedy festival with international artists, and the traditional autumn Törggelen season.