Feast of Saint Anthony of Padua in Pertosa

Saint Anthony of Padua, a local devotion in the Vallo di Diano

June 13th is no ordinary date in the Vallo di Diano. Saint Anthony of Padua is the most beloved wonder-working saint in Southern Italy, and his cult is widespread throughout the inland area of the Salerno province: dozens of municipalities, hamlets, and districts celebrate him on the same day. In Pertosa, the Antonine commemoration is one of the most cherished events in the local religious calendar, experienced by the community as a moment of reflection and collective gathering.

This is not a grand event designed for tourism. It is a village festival in the truest sense: organized by the parish and local families, it takes place between the church and the streets of the town center, thriving on the participation of those born in Pertosa or those who return every year specifically for this occasion.

How the day unfolds

The documented June 13, 2025 edition followed the classic pattern of Southern Antonine festivals. The day opened with solemn liturgical celebrations and Mass in honor of Saint Anthony, followed by the procession of the Saint's statue carried on shoulders through the village streets, accompanied by the prayers of the faithful and sacred music.

• Solemn Mass in honor of Saint Anthony of Padua
• Procession of the statue through the town center
• Prayers, devotional chants, and moments of reflection
• Community gathering in the village squares

In many Vallo di Diano towns, Antonine devotion is accompanied by the distribution of blessed bread of Saint Anthony, a gesture linked to the Saint's ancient charitable vocation. Any secular program, when planned, is defined year by year by the organizers and announced shortly before the festival; it is therefore advisable to check the parish and Municipality of Pertosa channels before traveling.

Pertosa, a village between the Tanagro and the caves

Pertosa is a small municipality in inland Campania, with just over six hundred inhabitants, nestled at about 310 meters above sea level on the slope overlooking the Tanagro river plain, at the northern entrance to the Vallo di Diano. The name derives from the Latin pertusus, meaning pierced, referring to the cavity that made the town famous.

Indeed, the Pertosa-Auletta Caves, also known as the Angel's Caves, are located here: about three kilometers of underground tunnels, the most extensive in Campania and the only ones in Italy where the tour begins by crossing a small underground lake by boat. The village also preserves the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, mentioned in ecclesiastical documents as early as the 13th century, with its Romanesque, Renaissance, and Baroque layers.

The territory is also known for the white artichoke of Pertosa, a Slow Food Presidium, celebrated in spring by a festival now in its twenty-ninth year. Thus, naturalistic, agri-food, and devotional heritage coexist in the Municipality's calendar.

Why it is worth attending

Those looking for a grand spectacle will find more immediate answers elsewhere. Those who want to understand how a religious festival is truly lived in the Southern Italian hinterland will find a clear example in Pertosa: a few hundred people, a statue carried on shoulders, decorated windows, the sound of footsteps along the narrow village streets. It is the kind of experience that restores the deep sense of a community and pairs well with a visit to the caves or a tour of nearby towns, from Auletta to Caggiano and Polla.

Before you go: check the dates

The liturgical commemoration of Saint Anthony of Padua falls on June 13th every year, and Pertosa's celebrations traditionally focus around this date. At the time of our last check, however, no official program for the 2026 edition had been published: times, locations, and the presence of any secular program must be confirmed directly with the parish or the Municipality. The official patron saints of Pertosa remain Saint Benedict of Nursia (March 21st) and Saint Victor (May 14th): the Antonine festival in June exists alongside these as an independent and deeply rooted popular devotion.