Sant’Ermete 2026: the Focata

Following the blessing of the town from the steps of the Church of Sant’Ermete, the Mayor will light the Focata, the ritual bonfire in Piazza Garibaldi.

In the past, the people of Forte dei Marmi would burn old deckchairs, sun loungers, worn-out pattìni and pieces of wood brought from their homes. The flames served as a signal to the communities in the surrounding hills, inviting them to come down to Forte dei Marmi for the patron saint’s celebrations. Symbolically, the bonfire also represented making way for a brighter and more fortunate future. Today, the tradition lives on as a moment when the community comes together after the blessing at the Church of Sant’Ermete to bid farewell to summer around the Grande Focata, accompanied by the music of the local La Marinara marching band.

As tradition has it, the evening wraps up with a game of Tombola, with everyone joining in for a chance to win the grand prize.