Feast of Saint Pellegrino the Martyr (with the Battenti of Saint Pellegrino)

A devotion spanning over two centuries

The Feast of Saint Pellegrino the Martyr is the defining event for the town of Altavilla Irpina, in the province of Avellino, in the heart of Irpinia. The tradition dates back to 1780, the year the saint's relics were brought to the village and the first procession of the Battenti was organized in his honor. Since then, every August 24th, the Irpinian village fills with devotees arriving on foot from neighboring towns: a rite of penance and thanksgiving that has endured for over two centuries without losing its intensity, and which has been included in the Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Campania Region.

The rite of the Battenti

The protagonists are the Battenti (also known as fujenti), men, women, and children who walk barefoot through the streets of the town, beating their chests, guided by the call of five trumpeters. Their attire is codified and deeply symbolic:

• white trousers, a symbol of purity;
• white shirt or tank top, linked to the memory of the saint's arrest;
• red sash at the waist, recalling the blood of martyrdom, often passed down from generation to generation.

At eight in the morning, the "Città di Grottolella" marching band announces the arrival of the teams. Representatives from Mugnano del Cardinale, Avella, Baiano, Roccarainola, Monteforte Irpino, Manocalzati, Montefredane, Picarelli, and Starze di Summonte parade alongside the Battenti of Altavilla: eight historic groups converging toward the sanctuary along a street crowded with people, amidst illuminations and rows of stalls.

The procession and the Sanctuary

The religious heart of the festival is the Diocesan Sanctuary of the Holy Martyrs Pellegrino and Alberico Crescitelli, which houses the sacred relics and the silver bust of the patron saint. On August 25th, in the late afternoon, the solemn procession winds through the town streets with the reliquary and the bust carried on shoulders; upon its return, a solemn mass is celebrated, in recent years presided over by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Benevento, Monsignor Felice Accrocca. Eucharistic adoration, the exposition of relics, and moments of prayer mark the entire day.

The secular festival along Corso Garibaldi

Alongside the religious program runs the secular one, all concentrated on Corso Giuseppe Garibaldi, which is transformed into a veritable gallery of artistic illuminations. The three evenings feature band and symphonic concerts, traditional Campanian folk music, entertainment shows, and cabaret, culminating in the fireworks that accompany the conclusion of the festivities. There is no shortage of stalls selling sweets and typical Irpinian products, making the evening an occasion for gathering for the entire town and for the many emigrants who return to Altavilla during these days.

Altavilla Irpina and the surrounding area

Located about fifteen kilometers north of Avellino, along the Sabato valley, Altavilla Irpina is a hillside village also known for its ancient sulfur mine and its historic center dominated by the castle. The patronal feast is the moment when the town's identity is displayed in its most authentic form: to understand Irpinia and the inland Campania, far from the coastal tourist routes, the march of the Battenti remains one of the most powerful experiences one can have in August.

When it takes place

The festivities are traditionally held on August 24th, 25th, and 26th of each year: the 24th is the day of the Battenti, the 25th is the day of the solemn procession and mass, and the 26th is the final evening with the closing musical show.