The patron saint of Cento is Saint Blaise, bishop and martyr, celebrated on 3 February in the basilica dedicated to him, one of the town's main places of worship together with the church of San Pietro, the church of San Lorenzo and the church of Santi Sebastiano e Rocco.
Cento is today known above all for its Carnival, a historic event already depicted in 1615 in a fresco by the celebrated Cento-born painter Guercino, and marked by the traditional custom of the «gettito», the throwing of gifts and sweets from the allegorical floats. The town also holds the Rocca di Cento, a historic fortification, and every year, during the so-called Settembre Centese, hosts the Fiera di Cento, which enlivens the whole month with numerous events.
