April Festival – Maria SS. della Vetrana
The grand spring patronal feast of Castellana Grotte in honor of Maria Santissima della Vetrana
About April Festival
The spring patronal feast of Castellana Grotte
The April Festival is the major spring patronal event in Castellana Grotte, a town in the province of Bari world-renowned for its caves. Every year, on the last Sunday of April, the entire community gathers around its patron saint, Maria Santissima della Vetrana, in a celebration that blends religious devotion, brass band music, pyrotechnic art, and a deep sense of belonging.
Origins: The liberation from the 1691 plague
The festival dates back to 1691, when the people of Castellana, struck by the terrible plague epidemic devastating Puglia, sought protection from the Madonna venerated at the Vetrana Sanctuary. The city was spared from the contagion, and since then, Maria SS. della Vetrana has been invoked as the "Holy Liberator from the plague". This devotion gives rise to two distinct celebrations throughout the year: the evocative Fanòve (large bonfires) in January and the solemn April Festival, both dedicated to the same patron saint.
Four days of festivities
For four days, the historic center of Castellana Grotte comes alive with religious and civil events. The days begin at dawn with the traditional Diana (morning firework salute) and brass bands parading through the streets, continuing with orchestral matinées in the squares and solemn Eucharistic celebrations at the mother church of San Leone Magno.
- Gala Procession: the most anticipated moment, when the effigy of the Madonna is carried in a procession through the main streets and squares of the town;
- Brass band concerts: prestigious Apulian ensembles perform in Piazza Nicola e Costa and other city squares;
- Artistic illuminations: decorative lights transform the historic center into a fascinating stage;
- Fireworks: the nighttime show that concludes the festival amidst applause and emotion;
- Return procession to the Sanctuary: the return of the sacred image to the Vetrana Sanctuary.
Music, tradition, and community
The heart of the April Festival is the great Apulian brass band tradition, with wind orchestras bringing a repertoire of opera and symphonic music to the squares. Organized by the Patronal Festival Committee with the patronage of the Municipality of Castellana Grotte and the Puglia Region, the event is not just a religious celebration, but a living expression of local history, an opportunity for gathering, and a moment of sharing for the entire community and the many visitors who flock to the city during these days.
April Festival — edition 2026
The 2026 April Festival
In 2026, the festivities in honor of Maria Santissima della Vetrana took place in Castellana Grotte from Friday, April 24, to Monday, April 27, with the highlight days being Saturday the 25th, Sunday the 26th, and Monday the 27th of April. The event was organized by the Patronal Festival Committee with the patronage of the Municipality and the Puglia Region.
The artistic illuminations were entrusted to the historic Faniuolo firm of Putignano, a guarantee of quality and continuity, while the traditional funfair was set up in Largo Porta Grande.
Programme April Festival 2026
Sunday, April 26
- 8:00 AM — Diana by Fire Magic Event of Luca Benedetti
- 8:30 AM — Parade through the city streets by the brass bands: Grande Orchestra di fiati "G. Ligonzo" (Conversano), Concerto Musicale Municipale (Francavilla Fontana), and Banda di Castellana Grotte APS
- 10:00 AM — Orchestral matinée in Piazza Nicola e Costa
- 10:00 AM — Solemn Pontifical Mass at the San Leone Magno church, presided over by Mons. Giuseppe Favale, Bishop of Conversano-Monopoli, with the Schola Cantorum "don Vincenzo Vitti"
- 11:30 AM — Grand Gala Procession through the main streets and squares of the town
Monday, April 27
- 8:00 AM — Diana by Fire Magic Event
- 8:30 AM — City parade of the bands: Gran Concerto Bandistico "Luciano Vinella" Città delle Grotte and Banda di Castellana Grotte APS
- 10:00 AM — Orchestral matinée in Piazza Nicola e Costa, conducted by Maestro Grazia Donateo
- 10:30 AM — Solemn Eucharistic Celebration at the San Leone Magno church
- 11:30 AM — Return procession of the image of Maria SS. della Vetrana to the Sanctuary
- 5:30 PM — Celebration in Piazza Garibaldi with the release of hot air balloons
- 6:30 PM — "Il Soirée di Bimbi in Banda" in Piazza Nicola e Costa
- 7:00 PM — Orchestral concert
- 11:00 PM — Fireworks by Fire Magic Event, followed by the closing concert
Highlights April Festival 2026
Prices April Festival 2026
Practical information — April Festival
Getting there
Castellana Grotte is located in the province of Bari, in the Murgia hinterland. By car, it can be reached via the SS100 Bari-Taranto road, taking the exit for Castellana Grotte. By train, it is served by the Ferrovie del Sud Est (FSE) line connecting Bari to Martina Franca and Taranto. The nearest airport is Bari-Palese, approximately 50 km away.
Admission and hours
All events of the April Festival are free of charge and take place in the public spaces of the historic center (San Leone Magno church, Piazza Nicola e Costa, Piazza Garibaldi, Largo Porta Grande, and the Vetrana Sanctuary). During the festival days, the town center is enlivened by market stalls and a funfair.
Tips
Dates vary from year to year around the last Sunday of April: always check the official program published by the Patronal Festival Committee and the Municipality. It is recommended to arrive early to secure a good spot for the Gala Procession and the brass band concerts in the squares.
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Where does it take place — April Festival
Chiesa San Leone Magno e Santuario Madonna della Vetrana