Feast of Saint Andrew the Apostle
Amalfi's patron saint celebration, featuring the famous dash up the 62 cathedral steps and fireworks over the sea
About Saint Andrew in Amalfi
A festival born from a miracle
The Feast of Saint Andrew the Apostle is the heart of the identity of Amalfi, in the province of Salerno, Campania. The apostle's relics arrived in the city in 1208, brought by the Amalfitan cardinal Pietro Capuano after the conquest of Constantinople, and have rested ever since in the crypt of the Cathedral Basilica that bears his name. However, the summer festival on June 27th has a specific and dramatic origin: in 1544, the fleet of the Turkish corsair Hayreddin Barbarossa prepared to sack Amalfi. As the population gathered in prayer before the Saint's tomb, a violent storm suddenly struck the gulf, forcing the enemy ships to retreat. Since that day, the people of Amalfi have celebrated the Patrocinio (Patronage) of Saint Andrew, honoring his protection over the city.
The dash up the 62 steps
The most iconic moment of the day arrives in the evening. After the procession winds through the historic center, the silver bust of Saint Andrew—a masterpiece of Neapolitan Baroque silversmithing—returns to the Cathedral. This is when the red-clad bearers perform the feat the entire Coast waits for: they sprint in a single, powerful surge up the monumental 62-step staircase that separates Piazza Duomo from the Basilica entrance, hoisting the heavy bust amidst the cheers, applause, and prayers of the crowd filling the square. It is a display of strength, endurance, and devotion that has been repeated for generations.
The Manna and the eve rituals
The eve of June 26th is dedicated to more intimate rituals. During the Pontifical Vespers in the Cathedral, the rite of the Manna is celebrated: an oily liquid that, according to a tradition documented as early as 1304, seeps from the apostle's tomb and is collected and distributed to the faithful. In the preceding days, the crypt hosts evening masses, prayers, and moments of Eucharistic adoration, while the solemn exposition of the silver bust in the Basilica officially marks the start of the festivities.
Bands, illuminations, and fireworks over the sea
Alongside its religious dimension, the festival has a deeply popular side. From the morning of the eve, marching bands parade through the alleys and perform in Piazza Municipio and Piazza Duomo; houses are adorned with drapes and streets light up with festive illuminations; at noon on June 27th, all the city's church bells ring in celebration. The grand finale is the fireworks display over the sea, launched from the harbor basin: the lights reflect on the water and illuminate the facades of the perched houses, creating one of the most photographed spectacles of the coastal summer.
Twice a year: June and November 30th
Amalfi is one of the few Italian cities to celebrate its patron saint twice. June 27th commemorates the 1544 miracle with the summer festival. On November 30th, the day of the apostle's martyrdom, the liturgical feast is celebrated: a day that begins at dawn with bells and bagpipes, continues with masses in the crypt and the Pontifical Mass, and features a procession down to the beach for the blessing of the sea and the fishing fleet, before the final dash up the steps and evening fireworks. Two festivals, two atmospheres: the summer one bustling with visitors, the winter one more intimate and deeply Amalfitan.
Amalfi, the Cathedral, and the Coast
The stage is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Cathedral of Saint Andrew, with its golden mosaic facade, Arab-Norman bell tower, and Cloister of Paradise, dominates the city's main square; surrounding it are the covered alleys of the ancient Maritime Republic, workshops for handmade paper and lemon products, and the harbor. During the festival, the historic center is closed to traffic and comes alive on foot, with crowds surging up and down the staircase. It is the best opportunity to understand the bond that has linked Amalfi to the sea, its fishermen, and the saint who protects them for centuries.
Tips for visitors
- Participation is free and open to all: no ticket is required to attend the celebrations, the procession, or the fireworks.
- To watch the dash of the bearers, it is best to position yourself in Piazza Duomo well in advance: the square fills up completely before 8:00 PM.
- The fireworks are best viewed from the seafront and the pier, as well as from boats in the harbor.
- On June 27th, ferry companies usually increase evening connections with Salerno and the coast: check special schedules before departing.
Saint Andrew in Amalfi — edition 2026
Saint Andrew 2026: seven days of celebration in Amalfi
The 2026 festivities began on Tuesday, June 23, in the crypt of the Cathedral Basilica, with evening masses and prayers, and concluded on Monday, June 29, with the repositioning of the patron's silver bust. The focus was on the weekend: Friday, June 26, the eve, featured marching bands touring the city streets, the solemn exposition of the statue, Pontifical Vespers with the rite of the Manna presided over by Archbishop Orazio Soricelli, the diocesan vigil, and an evening musical performance in Piazza Duomo.
Saturday, June 27, the anniversary of the 1544 miracle, opened at dawn with masses in the Cathedral, followed by the 10:00 AM Pontifical Mass animated by the Schola Cantorum "Cantate Domino Aloysiana" and the ringing of all the city's church bells at noon. At 8:00 PM, the procession with the silver bust followed the traditional route through the historic center, culminating in the dash of the bearers up the 62 steps of the cathedral staircase. At 11:30 PM, the grand fireworks display over the harbor basin illuminated the Amalfi Coast before thousands of spectators.
As every year, the liturgical commemoration of the apostle will return on November 30th, with the procession to the beach for the blessing of the sea.
Programme Saint Andrew in Amalfi 2026
Tuesday, June 23 and Wednesday, June 24
- 7:00 PM — Crypt of Saint Andrew: Holy Mass and prayers
Thursday, June 25
- 7:00 PM — Crypt of Saint Andrew: Holy Mass and prayers
- 8:00 PM — Eucharistic Adoration
Friday, June 26 — Eve
- 8:30 AM — Parade through the city by the Grande Banda del Cilento
- 10:00 AM — Solemn exposition of the silver bust and Holy Mass in the Cathedral Basilica
- 11:00 AM — Band concert in Piazza Municipio
- 6:00 PM — Second evening band parade
- 7:00 PM — Pontifical Vespers with the rite of the Manna, presided over by Archbishop Orazio Soricelli
- 8:00 PM — Diocesan vigil
- 9:30 PM — Musical evening in Piazza Duomo
Saturday, June 27 — Feast of the Patronage
- Holy Masses at 7:00, 8:00, 9:00 AM and 6:30 PM in the Cathedral Basilica
- 10:00 AM — Pontifical Holy Mass, animated by the Schola Cantorum "Cantate Domino Aloysiana"
- 12:00 PM — Festive ringing of the bells of all the city's churches
- 8:00 PM — Procession of the silver bust of Saint Andrew through the historic center, with the traditional dash of the bearers up the cathedral staircase
- 11:30 PM — Fireworks display over the sea, in the harbor basin
Monday, June 29
- 7:00 PM — Second Vespers
- 7:30 PM — Repositioning of the statue
Highlights Saint Andrew in Amalfi 2026
- The dash of the bearers: the 62 steps of the cathedral staircase climbed in a sprint with the Saint's silver bust, June 27 at approx. 8:00 PM
- The rite of the Manna during the Pontifical Vespers of the eve, June 26 at 7:00 PM
- The Pontifical Mass on June 27 at 10:00 AM with Archbishop Orazio Soricelli and the Schola Cantorum "Cantate Domino Aloysiana"
- Fireworks over the sea at 11:30 PM, launched from the harbor basin
- Bands in the streets: the Grande Banda del Cilento for city parades and the concert in Piazza Municipio
- Festive bells of all Amalfi churches, at noon on June 27
Prices Saint Andrew in Amalfi 2026
Practical information — Saint Andrew in Amalfi
Getting there
By car: Take the SS163 Amalfitana coastal road; traffic is extremely heavy during the festival, and parking in the city is limited and paid (private garages on Via Matteo Camera and along the state road). It is better to leave your car in Salerno or Sorrento and continue by public transport.
By bus: SITA Sud bus lines from Salerno, Sorrento, Positano, and Ravello, stopping at the Piazza Flavio Gioia terminal, just a short walk from the Cathedral.
By ferry: Maritime connections from Salerno, Positano, Minori, and Maiori (Travelmar, Alicost, Coop Sant'Andrea); on the day of the festival, special evening trips are often scheduled to return after the fireworks.
By train and plane: Salerno train station (High Speed) and Naples-Capodichino airport, then continue by bus or ferry.
Costs
All religious celebrations, the procession, marching bands, and the fireworks display are free and held outdoors.
Where to stay
Amalfi offers historic hotels and B&Bs, but June 27th is high season: book well in advance. More affordable alternatives can be found in Minori, Maiori, Vietri sul Mare, and Salerno, all connected by sea or SITA bus.
Tips
Wear comfortable shoes (the city is a maze of stairs and alleys), arrive in the square at least an hour before the procession, and pay attention to the last bus and ferry departures in the evening.
Information
Municipality of Amalfi, Piazza Municipio 6 — tel. +39 089 8736201. Archdiocese of Amalfi-Cava de' Tirreni for the liturgical program.
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Where does it take place — Saint Andrew in Amalfi
Basilica Cattedrale di Sant'Andrea Apostolo e centro storico di Amalfi
Piazza Duomo, 84011 Amalfi