The Serpari Festival in Cocullo, Abruzzo

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In the heart of Italy, a festival dedicated to snakes

Cocullo, a medieval village in the province of L’Aquila, is famous for the Serpari Festival held every May 1 that attracts tourists from all over the world. During the procession, the statue of St. Dominic, protector against toothaches and snake bites, goes through the streets of Cocullo covered with snakes and touched by all the faithful. A ritual with a strong cathartic value is consumed, both of celebration of the saint, seen not only as the protector from the pitfalls of nature (such as toothache and snake bite) but also from all the evils of the world.

During the Festival, the Serparians, allow visitors who ask, to manipulate the snakes that cover the Saint. The rite of the Serpari Festival, probably dates back to pagan rituals practiced by the Marsi, an ancient Italic people who inhabited the area and worshipped the goddess Angizia, protector from snake venom.

Even today, the Serpari, skilled snake hunters, around March, catch snakes in the countryside of Cocullo and feed them (with mice and eggs) until the day of the festival. Captured species, all of which are non-poisonous, are always released at the end of the festival, returning to their natural environment.