Feast of Saint Vitus, Patron Saint of Positano
Four days of faith and local tradition in the vertical city of the Amalfi Coast
About Feast of Saint Vitus
The Patron Saint's festival in the vertical city
June 15th is the most significant date of the year for the town of Positano, located in the province of Salerno in the heart of the Amalfi Coast. It is the day the community celebrates Saint Vitus, its patron saint, with a festival that weaves together solemn liturgy, folk rituals, and entertainment. For a few days, the most photographed village in Campania sheds its international tourist destination persona and returns to what it has always been: a seaside town of fishermen and families gathering around their saint.
Saint Vitus, martyred at a very young age during the Diocletian persecutions alongside his tutor Modestus and nurse Crescentia, is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. He is invoked against nervous disorders and poisonous bites and is traditionally considered the protector of animals. This is why he is almost always depicted in iconography with dogs at his feet and the palm of martyrdom—a detail that in Positano has evolved into one of the most beloved moments of the festivities.
The preparatory triduum
The celebrations are not limited to the day of the patron saint alone. In the days leading up to the solemnity, the Parish of Santa Maria Assunta, which promotes the festival under the aegis of the Archdiocese of Amalfi-Cava de' Tirreni, leads the preparatory triduum: every evening, the Holy Rosary, the chaplet, and the Eucharistic Celebration fill the mother church, recognizable worldwide for its yellow, green, and blue majolica dome overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea.
- Evening triduum at the parish with Rosary and Holy Mass
- Feast of Saint Anthony at the Chiesa Nuova, with the blessing and distribution of bread
- Exposition of the venerated statue of Saint Vitus inside the parish
The blessing of the dogs in Piazza Flavio Gioia
At noon on June 15th, the most curious and popular event takes place: the blessing of the dogs. Locals and tourists gather in Piazza Flavio Gioia, in front of the church steps, with their pets on leashes or in their arms to receive the priest's blessing. It is a ritual that descends directly from Saint Vitus's patronage over animals and has become a small attraction for foreign visitors in recent years, who are surprised to see so many dogs lined up in front of a church overlooking the sea.
The procession of the relic bust
In the late afternoon, the festival enters its most solemn phase. After the Eucharistic Celebration concelebrated by the priests of the Pastoral Unit, the silver relic bust of Saint Vitus leaves the parish and is carried on shoulders along the stairways and alleys of the town, accompanied by hymns, prayers, and civil authorities. The procession crosses the historic center up to the Piazza dei Mulini area, in a route that, given the vertical layout of Positano, turns into a winding line of lights descending and ascending among the houses clinging to the rock.
Music and fireworks on Spiaggia Grande
The religious part is followed by the popular one. The evening continues in Piazza Flavio Gioia with musical performances and the concert by the Premiato Concerto Bandistico Città di Minori, one of the historic brass bands of the coast. The grand finale is entrusted to the fireworks launched from Spiaggia Grande: the explosions reflect in the gulf's water and illuminate the characteristic pyramid of houses sloping down to the sea, one of the most photographed spectacles in all of Campania.
Why it's worth attending
The Feast of Saint Vitus is the best opportunity to discover the authentic face of Positano, far from the fashion boutiques and beach clubs. It falls in mid-June, when the weather is already fully summery but the crowds of July and August have not yet arrived: the illuminations, floral arrangements, and stalls make the village particularly charming. All events take place outdoors or in the town's churches and are free and open to everyone, residents and visitors alike.
Feast of Saint Vitus — edition 2026
Positano celebrates its Patron Saint
From June 12 to 15, 2026, Positano celebrated Saint Vitus with four days of religious and popular events organized by the Parish of Santa Maria Assunta. The triduum, which began on Friday, June 12, prepared the community for the solemnity of Monday, June 15, the day the town gathered around its protector.
The day of the Patron Saint
The morning was marked by holy masses at 7:30, 9:30, and 11:00, while at noon, Piazza Flavio Gioia filled with families and dogs for the animal blessing, one of the most iconic rituals of the Positano festival. At 7:00 PM, the solemn Eucharistic Celebration, concelebrated by the priests of the Pastoral Unit and attended by civil authorities, preceded the procession with the relic bust through the streets of the center.
The evening
After the musical moment at 9:30 PM, the Premiato Concerto Bandistico Città di Minori, conducted by Maestro Giovanni Vuolo, performed in Piazza Flavio Gioia at 10:00 PM. At 11:30 PM, the fireworks display by Pirotecnica Guadagno, launched from Spiaggia Grande, closed the festivities, illuminating the pyramid of houses overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea in red, gold, and silver.
Programme Feast of Saint Vitus 2026
Friday, June 12, 2026
- 6:30 PM - Holy Rosary and Chaplet at the Parish of Santa Maria Assunta
- 7:00 PM - Eucharistic Celebration, beginning of the solemn triduum in honor of Saint Vitus
Saturday, June 13, 2026
- 8:30 AM - Feast of Saint Anthony at Chiesa Nuova: blessing and distribution of bread
- 6:30 PM - Holy Rosary and Chaplet at the Parish
- 7:00 PM - Eucharistic Celebration of the triduum
Sunday, June 14, 2026
- 6:30 PM - Holy Rosary and Chaplet at the Parish
- 7:00 PM - Eucharistic Celebration, third day of the triduum
Monday, June 15, 2026 - Solemnity of Saint Vitus
- 7:30 AM, 9:30 AM, and 11:00 AM - Holy Masses
- 12:00 PM - Traditional blessing of the dogs in Piazza Flavio Gioia
- 7:00 PM - Solemn Eucharistic Celebration concelebrated by the priests of the Pastoral Unit, with civil authorities present
- Following - Procession with the silver relic bust of Saint Vitus through the streets of Positano
- 9:30 PM - Musical show 'Musica ed Emozioni in... Volo', by Vicoli in Arte
- 10:00 PM - Concert by the Premiato Concerto Bandistico Città di Minori, conducted by Maestro Giovanni Vuolo, in Piazza Flavio Gioia
- 11:30 PM - Grand fireworks display from Spiaggia Grande, by Pirotecnica Guadagno
Floral arrangements by Flora Garden Positano; artistic lighting by Ditta Donnarumma.
Highlights Feast of Saint Vitus 2026
- The blessing of the dogs at noon in Piazza Flavio Gioia, a ritual linked to Saint Vitus's patronage over animals
- The procession of the silver relic bust along the stairways of the vertical city
- The concert by the Premiato Concerto Bandistico Città di Minori conducted by Maestro Giovanni Vuolo
- The fireworks by Pirotecnica Guadagno launched from Spiaggia Grande at 11:30 PM
- The illuminations and floral arrangements that transform the historic center of Positano
Prices Feast of Saint Vitus 2026
Practical information — Feast of Saint Vitus
How to get there
By car: The SS163 Amalfitana state road connects Positano to Sorrento and Amalfi; during the festival, traffic is heavy and paid parking is limited, so it is best to arrive early. By bus: SITA Sud lines from Sorrento and Amalfi, with stops at Positano Chiesa Nuova and Positano Sponda. By train: Salerno or Sorrento station (Circumvesuviana from Naples), then bus. By sea: During the summer season, hydrofoil and ferry connections from Salerno, Amalfi, Sorrento, and Capri, docking at Spiaggia Grande, just a few steps from the parish.
Admission and costs
All religious and civil events, including the band concert and the fireworks display, are free and open to the public.
Useful tips
Positano is a vertical town made of stairways: comfortable shoes are essential. For the fireworks, the best panoramic points are Spiaggia Grande, the pier, and the panoramic road towards Montepertuso. Those bringing a dog to the blessing must keep it on a leash. In June, accommodation on the coast fills up quickly: it is best to book well in advance.
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Where does it take place — Feast of Saint Vitus
Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta e Piazza Flavio Gioia
Piazza Flavio Gioia, 84017 Positano