Feast of Saint Anselm the Martyr

A Procession Like No Other

The Feast of Saint Anselm the Martyr is the most heartfelt event of the year for Vietri di Potenza, a village in the Val Melandro in the province of Potenza. Saint Anselm is the patron saint of the town, and his feast, set for the first Sunday of May, is characterized by a rite that makes it truly singular in the Lucanian landscape: during the procession, alongside the statue of the patron saint, all the statues of the other saints venerated in Vietri are paraded.

A Choral Gesture from the Entire Community

As the mayor Giordano recounted, it is "a unique and profoundly characteristic procession," a "collective gesture that tells who we are." The sacred effigies are carried by the elderly, young people, and children, in an unbroken chain between generations that makes this day a moment of strong community identity. The tradition has its roots in time and continues to move the people of Vietri year after year.

Faith, Order, and Participation

The organization involves the Committee of Saint Anselm the Martyr, the parish with Father Salvatore, and the many statue bearers. The Carabinieri, Local Police, Provincial Police, Civil Protection, and Red Cross ensure the smooth running of the procession. The feast thus combines the devotional dimension with the civil one, in an atmosphere of solemnity and popular celebration.

Experiencing Vietri in Spring

Witnessing the procession of Saint Anselm means discovering an authentic face of inland Basilicata: a village that gathers around its saints and traditions, far from the major tourist flows but capable of offering an experience of rare intensity. A good opportunity, in spring, to visit the historic center and the Val Melandro area.