Carresi di Sant'Antonio da Padova

The Carresi, the Arbëreshë soul of Montecilfone

Montecilfone is one of the municipalities of the Arbëreshë linguistic minority in lower Molise, in the province of Campobasso: a community that has preserved its Albanian language, rites, and cuisine for centuries. In the days following the feast of Sant'Antonio da Padova (June 13th), the village renews one of its most cherished traditions, the Carresi.

The parade of carts

The heart of the festival is the procession of agricultural carts pulled by oxen, which accompany the statue of the Saint through the village streets. The carts are adorned with flowers, garlands, drapes, and colorful flags, while the oxen parade with golden horns, decorated with ribbons, bows, and colorful tufts of cotton. It is a spectacle of colors and faith that recalls the ancient bond between the community and the farming world.

Italo-Albanian flavors

Along the route and in the squares, food stands offer dishes of the Italo-Albanian tradition and especially pampanella, the chili-spiced pork meat baked in the oven, a specialty that symbolizes this corner of Molise. Amidst music, procession, and tastings, the Carresi are the moment when Montecilfone best showcases its dual soul, Molisean and Arbëreshë.