Festivities in Honor of Beata Bonizzella (with the Contesa delle Porte)

Five centuries of devotion in the heart of the Crete Senesi

Every year, in the first half of May, the village of Trequanda, nestled in the Crete Senesi in the province of Siena, gathers to honor Beata Bonizzella Cacciaconti, the town's patron saint. The daughter of Ildebrandino Cacciaconti, a powerful Ghibelline feudal lord who lived between 1220 and 1300, Bonizzella married a nobleman from Pienza. After being widowed, she retired to the Belsedere estate, dedicating her life to prayer and charity for the poor. Her remains are kept in an ancient urn on the altar of the Trequanda Parish Church and are displayed for the veneration of the faithful during these festivities, which the community has celebrated for nearly five centuries.

A week of faith and community

The festivities span about ten days, weaving together spiritual moments and events open to all. Celebrations begin with a youth soccer tournament at the local sports field and continue with the traditional pilgrimage to Belsedere, accompanied by Holy Mass and a convivial snack. The central days feature a preparatory triduum, while the cultural program includes a refined organ concert in the parish church and a choral festival dedicated to the Beata.

There is no shortage of events highlighting the local area and its excellence: walks through the hills, visits to beehives with insights into local honey, and falconry, paying homage to the bond between Bonizzella and the bees, of which she is considered the protector. Games and workshops are planned for children, while the food stand offers specialties of Sienese cuisine during community lunches and dinners, alongside a charity fair.

The Contesa delle Porte: a new tradition

Alongside the historic procession, starting in 2026, the festivities have been enriched by the Contesa delle Porte, a popular challenge between the three districts named after the ancient gates of the medieval village: Porta Buggea, Porta del Sole, and Porta del Borgo (also known as Porta del Leccio). The first edition, strongly supported by the parish administrator Father Davide Campeggiani, saw Porta Buggea triumph and became a core element of cohesion and identity for the community.

The highlight: procession, flag-wavers, and solemn Mass

The most anticipated moment is the historic costumed procession through the village streets, accompanied by the philharmonic band and embellished by a flag-waver show. The conclusion features a solemn Mass presided over by Cardinal Augusto Paolo Lojudice, Archbishop of Siena, and the evocative closing of the urn with the Te Deum. To cap off the festivities, a grand fireworks display lights up the Trequanda sky in the evening. An event that, in this small Tuscan town, perfectly blends spirituality, historical memory, and village celebration.