Feast of Saint Anthony of Padua

Devotion to Saint Anthony in Squinzano

In Squinzano, a town in the province of Lecce in Northern Salento, devotion to Saint Anthony of Padua is among the community's most deep-rooted traditions. The Portuguese Franciscan friar, who lived in the 13th century and died on June 13, 1231, is popularly known as the "Saint of the thirteen miracles a day." The number thirteen defines his cult and gives its name to the tredicina, a cycle of thirteen evenings of prayer leading up to the feast. In Squinzano, the event is organized by the parish community of San Nicola and Mater Domini, involving the entire town in a blend of religious rites and popular festivities.

The papier-mâché statue by Giuseppe Manzo

The heart of the feast is the venerated statue of Saint Anthony, crafted around 1921 by the renowned Lecce papier-mâché artist Giuseppe Manzo. The work depicts the Saint in his Franciscan habit, with a white cord and rosary, holding the Baby Jesus in his arms. The statue is carried in procession by members of the Confraternity of Saint Anthony, who safeguard this tradition. Salento's papier-mâché art, an heritage Squinzano shares with nearby Lecce, remains one of the most iconic artistic expressions of Puglia.

Tredicina, masses, and procession

The festivities begin with the tredicina from May 31st to June 12th, featuring the recitation of the rosary and evening Eucharistic celebrations at the mother church of San Nicola. On June 13th, the Saint's feast day, masses are held with the traditional blessing of the bread—a symbolic gesture linked to Antonian charity—at the churches of Mater Domini and San Nicola. In the evening, the solemn procession winds through the town center accompanied by the 'Città di Squinzano' band, concluding with a final tribute to the Saint in Piazza San Nicola.

A community celebration

Alongside the liturgical events, the feast in Squinzano is enriched with entertainment and activities that bring the town squares to life, engaging families, youth, and visitors alike. It is a unique opportunity to experience the authentic tradition of a Puglian patronal feast, where the sacred and the popular merge into a single celebration shared by the entire Salento community.