Feast of Saint Blaise

The feast of the co-patron of Ostuni

The Feast of Saint Blaise is one of the most heartfelt religious events in Ostuni, the famous White City in the Province of Brindisi, Puglia. Every year on February 3rd, the Municipality of Ostuni honors its co-patron saint with a pilgrimage that draws thousands of people to the rock-hewn sanctuary of San Biagio, a place of worship carved into the rock and set within the pine forest surrounding the city, inside a picturesque natural ravine.

The pilgrimage and the blessing of the throat

Devotion to Saint Blaise is rooted in the legend of the saint who saved a child from a fish bone stuck in his throat: for this reason, he is invoked as a protector against throat ailments. The most characteristic tradition of the day is the blessing of the throat, bestowed upon the faithful using the sanctuary's holy water. Many pilgrims reach the cave on foot, sometimes barefoot, following the path that connects the town center to the sanctuary nestled in the woods.

Religious celebrations

Throughout the day, holy masses are held both at the rock-hewn sanctuary and in the churches of Ostuni's historic center, including the Church of San Francesco and the Co-Cathedral. In the afternoon, the solemn Eucharistic service is presided over by the Archbishop of Brindisi-Ostuni. The highlight in recent years has been the reopening of access to the sanctuary's crypt, which has become accessible again following safety work on the rocky ridge and is once again hosting celebrations after several years of closure.

Services and hospitality

To facilitate participation, the Municipality of Ostuni provides a free shuttle and bus service connecting the city to the sanctuary throughout the day. The local Info-Point also organizes free guided tours, by reservation, dedicated to discovering Saint Blaise through history, spirituality, and nature. The Civil Protection and volunteer associations assist the faithful and visitors along the route, ensuring the event takes place safely.

A heritage of faith and identity

The Feast of Saint Blaise is not just a religious event, but a moment of strong collective identity for Ostuni and the entire territory of the Province of Brindisi. The bond between the community, the pine forest landscape, and the rock-hewn sanctuary makes this recurrence one of the most authentic expressions of Puglian popular traditions.