Feast of Saint George the Martyr and Saint Mary of the Greeks

A patronal feast in the heart of the Itria Valley

The Feast of Saint George the Martyr and Saint Mary of the Greeks is the main religious and popular festival in Locorotondo, a famous white-washed village in the Itria Valley, in the province of Bari (Apulia). For a few days, the characteristic historic center, with its lime-washed houses and cummerse (the town's typical pointed roofs), transforms into a setting of lights, music, and devotion, drawing both locals and numerous visitors from across the region.

The festival unites two patrons: Saint George the Martyr, protector of the town, and Saint Mary of the Greeks, whose veneration is rooted in the ancient Byzantine cultural influence that spread throughout southern Apulia. The sacred images are enthroned in the Mother Church dedicated to Saint George, the starting and ending point of the celebrations.

The 'Dono a San Giorgio': a tradition since 1650

The most iconic and evocative moment of the festival is the 'Dono a San Giorgio' ceremony, an unbroken tradition dating back to 1650. In that year, Mayor Angelo Morelli established the custom of offering the Chapter ten silver ducats and ten pounds of wax to restore and illuminate the Saint's chapel. The gesture began as an act of thanksgiving: on Christmas night in 1648, the town had repelled an assault by an armed band led by Antonio Montanaro, known as "Capodiferro," and the population attributed their salvation to the intercession of Saint George.

Even today, a civic procession sets off from the Town Hall to reach the Mother Church: the Mayor, councilors, Workers' Societies, and civil and military associations offer the votive candle and the "Gift" from the faithful. On this occasion, the Relics of Saint George are displayed, kept under three keys entrusted to the Mayor and the Presidents of the Workers' Societies. A symbol of reconciliation is the Kiss of the Flags between the banners of the associations, a rite of peace established after World War I to unite once-rival factions.

Processions, hot air balloons, and fireworks

The main days of the festival feature solemn Eucharistic celebrations and the procession of the patron saints' statues, carried by the "Ladies of the Odegitria" and the "Knights of Saint George" along the town's main streets, amidst parish flags and banners. Among the most beloved traditions is the launch of hot air balloons, historic paper balloons that rise into the sky as the procession passes in front of the Town Hall.

The festivities also include the morning pyrotechnic salute, brass bands, and the famous band shells, the sumptuous illuminations that light up the Corso and the historic center, a funfair for all ages, and craft markets. The grand finale features a fireworks display near the sports field, closing the festival in a night of colors over the white roofs of Locorotondo.

When it takes place

Traditionally, the festival is celebrated around April 23rd, the liturgical day of Saint George the Martyr, spanning several days. The date may be shifted if it falls close to Easter: in 2025, for example, the festivities were moved to the first days of May. The festival is organized by the Patronal Feast Committee together with the Saint George the Martyr Parish and with the support of the Municipality of Locorotondo.