Feast of Saints Cosmas and Damian

A centuries-old devotion in the heart of Terlizzi

The Feast of Saints Cosmas and Damian is, along with the feast of the Madonna di Sovereto, the most anticipated devotional event in Terlizzi, a town in the Metropolitan City of Bari, Apulia. The two physician brothers, martyrs and miracle-workers venerated as protectors of the sick, have been particularly dear to the Terlizzi community for centuries. Every year at the end of September, the town renews a cult deeply rooted in its social and religious fabric.

The Confraternity of Santa Maria delle Grazie and the Santi Medici

The organizational heart of the festival is the Confraternity of Santa Maria delle Grazie and the Santi Medici, one of the oldest in the entire northern Bari area, which celebrated the bicentenary of its foundation in 2022. The confreres, wearing their traditional robes, guard the sacred effigies of the saints and accompany them in procession, joined by other local confraternities and civil and religious authorities.

A program blending faith and popular tradition

The festivities open with a novena of nine days, celebrated starting in mid-September, with Holy Masses, the Rosary, and moments of prayer. During the final weekend, the city comes alive: morning diane (firecracker salutes) and blank shots announce the feast, while brass bands parade through the streets to greet the faithful from the early hours. The Solemn Mass is traditionally presided over by a bishop, often held on Viale Roma or at the church of the Santi Medici.

• Novena: nine days of preparatory liturgical celebrations
• Brass Band Concerts: the "Antonio Gisonda" Band and the "Amici della Musica T. Marinelli" ensemble enliven the town streets
• Markets and stalls: traditional festive lighting, food stands, and artisan markets
• Fireworks: the concluding display near the municipal park, by Via Piave

The procession and fireworks

The highlight is the procession of the venerated effigies of Saints Cosmas and Damian, which leaves the church on Sunday afternoon to slowly wind through the historic center, accompanied by band music and thousands of faithful. The return in the evening is preceded by a blessing with the reliquary and concludes with traditional fireworks dedicated by the entire citizenry. The following Monday, a memorial Mass and the singing of the Te Deum officially close the festivities.

Terlizzi and Apulia in celebration

The Feast of the Santi Medici is much more than a liturgical recurrence: it is a collective ritual that unites faith, identity, and conviviality, typical of the great patronal feasts of the northern Bari area. For those visiting Apulia at the end of summer, it is the ideal opportunity to discover the authentic soul of Terlizzi, a city of flowers and olive oil, amidst popular devotion, brass bands, and the warm atmosphere of September evenings.