Feast in Honor of Maria SS. del Buoncammino

A popular celebration in the heart of the Alta Murgia

The Feast in honor of Maria Santissima del Buoncammino is one of the most deeply rooted traditions in Altamura, a city in the Province of Bari overlooking the Alta Murgia plateau in Apulia. The Madonna del Buoncammino is venerated as the city's co-patron, and her feast, centered in September, unites the entire community around an ancient and deeply popular cult. This is not merely a religious event: it is an identity-defining occasion involving parishes, associations, showmen, marching bands, and thousands of faithful and curious visitors.

The equestrian parade and the transfer of the sacred image

The devotion unfolds in several stages. It all begins in August, on the Sunday following the Feast of the Assumption, with the famous equestrian parade: a folkloric procession that, following the flag auction along Via Bari, accompanies the sacred image from the suburban Sanctuary to the Cathedral of Altamura, where the Madonna remains on display for a month of celebrations. It is one of the most characteristic and anticipated moments, drawing entire families into the streets in a spirit of great participation.

The days of the feast: procession, concerts, and funfair

The heart of the festivities falls on the second Sunday of September. The city comes alive with musical evenings in Piazza Matteotti, while a large funfair with rides and attractions for children and teenagers is set up in the Via Martin Luther King area. The most solemn moment is the procession that, in the evening, winds through the historic center starting from Piazza Duomo and traversing the main streets and squares. The festival concludes with the unmissable fireworks display, which illuminates the Murgia sky late at night. In the following days, the statue returns to the Sanctuary with a penitential pilgrimage.

Altamura, the city of bread and the cathedral

Experiencing the Buoncammino feast is also the perfect opportunity to discover Altamura, famous throughout Italy for its DOP bread and the majestic Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, commissioned by Frederick II of Swabia. Strolling through the claustri (courtyards) of the historic center, tasting typical Murgia gastronomy, and soaking up the atmosphere of an authentically popular festival makes this event an unforgettable experience for those visiting inland Apulia.

The 2026 edition

The dates for the 2026 September festivities have not yet been officially announced. However, the event remains a fixture on the city calendar: the detailed program, including concerts, procession times, and traffic arrangements, is usually released in the weeks preceding the event by municipal authorities and organizers.