Sagra dell’Uva (Grape Festival) – Marino is famous for this festival which has taken place on the first Sunday of October since 1925 when it was thought of by the poet Leone Ciprelli. The festival was the very first of its kind in Italy and has now spread over the entire peninsula. During the festival there is free flowing wine instead of water from the fountains and the streets are crowded with people eating, drinking and singing together in a contagious happy atmosphere. The non-religious manner of the festival equals the celebrations of the Madonna del Rosario commemorating the victory of the Holy Alliance against the Turkish Empire during the battle of Lepanto on the 7th October 1571.

Festa Patronale di San Barnaba (Patron Saint’s Day) – the celebrations take place on 11th June every year. The protection of Marino entrusted to San Barnaba goes back to 1619. The town was originally protected by Santa Lucia until a series of hailstorms fell over Marino on the 11th June every year between 1615 to 1618. The inhabitants called upon Cardinal Francesco Sforza di Santa Fiora – Bishop of Albano – to celebrate San Barnaba on 11th June. Since then, the traditional celebration coincides with a livestock trade fair and other various exhibition stands.

Festa della compatronale di Santa Lucia (Patron Saint’s Day) – it takes place on 13th December to celebrate the original patron Saint of Marino, Santa Lucia, until San Barnaba was nominated Patron Saint in 1619. Nevertheless, she remained Patron Saint of Marino. Besides the religious celebrations in honour of ancient traditions various market stalls are set up. The religious ceremony is celebrated with a procession of young girls dressed in white that proceed from the present day Civic Museum (ex Church of Santa Lucia) to the church of Saint Barnaba. The ritual is carried out in the dark until a girl representing Santa Lucia lights a candle in the church, a symbol of the Patron Saint of vision and the bearer of light.

Mercatino dell’antiquariato (Antique market) – on the last Sunday of every month, you can find antique and curiosity stalls along the streets of the historical centre.