Feast of Saint Anthony of Padua

The Feast of Saint Anthony in Mola di Bari

In Mola di Bari, a town on the Adriatic coast within the Metropolitan City of Bari, the Feast of Saint Anthony of Padua on June 13th is one of the most cherished religious events of the year. Although it is not the town's official patronal festival — which is reserved for Maria SS. Addolorata, celebrated on the second Sunday of September — the feast of Saint Anthony draws a profound and widespread popular devotion: as the local municipality notes, "Saint Anthony is one of the saints most loved by the people of Mola."

The procession and the barefoot faithful

The heart of the day is the procession of the Saint's statue, which winds through the streets of the historic center in the late afternoon. This is where the most evocative aspect of the Mola festival emerges: many faithful, in fulfillment of a vow, follow the procession walking barefoot and carrying large candles, a gesture of gratitude and penance passed down from generation to generation. The area surrounding the church dedicated to the Saint is adorned with traditional Puglian illuminations.

The Tredicina and the Triduum

Spiritual preparation follows the classic Antonian calendar. The Tredicina marks the thirteen days leading up to the feast, with the Holy Rosary and evening Mass animated by the Friars Minor. In the days immediately preceding the feast, the solemn Triduum takes place, with days dedicated to couples, the sick, and the blessing of children. The event is organized by the Confraternity of Saint Francis of Assisi, associated with the church of Santa Maria del Passo, in collaboration with the Mother Parish and the local festival committee.

The secular program: bands and fireworks

Alongside the religious dimension, the day of June 13th also features a secular program. At dawn, the pyrotechnic "diana" announces the start of the festivities; during the procession, single shots are fired to accompany the march; in the evening, as the procession arrives in Piazza XX Settembre, the sky lights up with fireworks followed by a brass band concert by the City of Mola di Bari. It is the moment when the community gathers in the square to conclude the day of celebration.

Saint Anthony and Mola di Bari

The feast of Saint Anthony is part of a dense devotional calendar that marks the life of Mola di Bari, a fishing village overlooking the Adriatic south of the regional capital. For those visiting Puglia in June, it is an opportunity to discover an authentic tradition, far from the main tourist circuits, where popular faith, brass band music, and pyrotechnic displays blend into the atmosphere of a seaside town in the Bari area.