The annual St Mary Magdalene Festival returns to Trevenzuolo, bringing together traditional cuisine, local history, culture and a celebration of the area’s heritage.
A highlight of the programme comes on Wednesday 22 July with the presentation of the Premio Trevent, an award honouring people whose achievements and commitment have helped promote Trevenzuolo and its community. The ceremony will take place at 9pm, ahead of the festival’s official opening, in the presence of local authorities and residents.
This year’s recipients are Luigi Roncaglia (born 1943), the Mantua-born cyclist who won silver in the team pursuit at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, setting a 4km world record that stood unbeaten for 24 years before going on to claim world titles in 1966 and 1968; Paolo Ongaro (born 1947), a leading figure in Italian athletics, national youth champion and joint holder of the Italian 80-metre record in 1963, who also won the CSI junior national 100-metre title; Giovanni Garzon (born 1935), the footballer who played in Serie A with SPAL between 1955 and 1965; and Natalino Ferrarini (born 1937), an athlete with the Italian Air Force who finished runner-up at the 1960 National Military Championships and competed extensively in national and international events.
On Thursday 23 July, the festival will host “The Mystery of a Face”, a conversation exploring the life and legacy of St Mary Magdalene through the lenses of art, faith and history. Speakers include Don Roberto Bianchini, priest, scholar and rector of the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Verona, and Monsignor Bruno Fasani, priest, journalist and cultural commentator.
Running from 22 to 28 July, the festival offers a programme of events dedicated to culture, visual arts, live entertainment and local traditions. Among the new features of the 2026 edition is an event that brings together history, art and technology, reflecting the organisers’ ambition to celebrate the past while embracing new ways of telling the story of the territory.
