Feast of Saints Cosmas and Damian

A devotion spanning centuries

The Feast of Saints Cosmas and Damian is the most cherished patronal festival in Ugento, a town in the province of Lecce overlooking Lower Salento, in Puglia. The two anargyroi saints, physicians and martyrs venerated as protectors of health and the sick, are celebrated annually in late September with festivities that combine religious observance with civil and popular traditions.

Ugento's devotion dates back to the 16th century: the first church dedicated to Saints Cosmas and Damian was founded in the first half of the 1500s by notary Luigi Calandria, while the oldest part of the current sanctuary, including the facade, dates back to 1760. The building stands on a pre-existing Byzantine structure initially dedicated to Saint Lucy, a testament to the historical depth of this site of worship.

The fair and the royal privilege

One of the most characteristic elements of the festival is the market fair, held by virtue of an official privilege granted by King Ferdinand IV on March 31, 1774. Since then, for three days, Ugento comes alive with stalls and the traditional animal market along Via Rovigo, an event that still retains the charm of the great village fairs of Salento. The Sanctuary, a pilgrimage destination thanks to the fame of numerous miracles attributed to the two Martyr Saints, was expanded and renovated between the late 19th century and the following decades to accommodate the crowds of devotees.

Three days of celebration

The religious heart of the celebration is the solemn procession of the saints' statues which, on the eve of the feast, winds through the streets of the historic center amidst prayers, sacred music, and a crowd coming not only from Ugento but from all the municipalities of Salento. The main day is dedicated to Holy Masses in the Sanctuary, the fair, and the blessing of the sick.

• Solemn procession of the saints' statues through the city center
• Holy Masses and liturgical celebrations in the Sanctuary of Saints Cosmas and Damian
• Market fair and animal market on Via Rovigo
• Artistic illuminations lighting up Piazza San Vincenzo and the main streets
• Concerts by national artists and folk performances
• Fireworks display, one of the most anticipated events in the Salento calendar

A defining event for Salento

The feast of the Saints is not just a moment of faith, but a true collective ritual that marks the end of the Salento summer. The illuminations, the scents of the fair, the brass band music, and the evening concerts in the square transform Ugento into a meeting point for entire families and the many emigrants who return home specifically for the occasion. It is the ideal opportunity to discover the historic center of Ugento, its cathedral, and the rich Messapian and Roman archaeological heritage of one of the oldest cities in Salento.