Feast of the Anaunian Holy Martyrs (Perdon di Sanzeno — May)

The Perdon di Sanzeno, the spiritual heart of the Val di Non

In the small town of Sanzeno, nestled on the plateau of the Val di Non in the province of Trento (Trentino-Alto Adige), the Feast of the Anaunian Holy Martyrs is much more than a religious anniversary: it is a living memory of the Christian origins of Trentino. Popularly known as the Perdon di Sanzeno, the celebration centers around May 29th and draws faithful and pilgrims from neighboring villages every year.

Who were the Holy Martyrs?

The festival commemorates Sisinio, Martirio, and Alessandro, three missionaries sent by the Bishop of Trento, Vigilio, to evangelize the populations of the Noce valleys. Killed on May 29, 397 AD for their opposition to pagan rites, they are considered the founders of the Trentino Church. Bishop Vigilio sent some of their relics to Saint Ambrose in Milan, where a deep devotion was born; part of these relics returned to Sanzeno in 1927 and are still kept today in an ancient reliquary carried in procession.

The meaning of the "Perdon"

Since 2020, by decree of the Holy See, the Perdon di Sanzeno — the plenary indulgence that can be obtained for oneself or a deceased person — extends to the days of May 26, 27, 28, and 29. This is the feature that gives the festival its popular name and explains the ancient influx of pilgrims to the Basilica of the Holy Martyrs, built on the site where the three evangelizers are remembered.

How the festival unfolds

The days of the triduum include afternoon and evening Holy Masses in the Basilica. On the eve of the feast, the vigil commemorating the death of the Martyrs is held, animated by the Gruppo Samuele. On the day of the feast, May 29th, the most solemn moment is the evening procession with the relics: the pageant moves from the church of Santa Maria, in the town center, towards the Basilica, where the solemn Mass presided over by the Archbishop of Trento, Lauro Tisi, is celebrated, accompanied by the choirs of the Val di Non and Val di Sole.

• Where: Basilica of the Holy Martyrs, Sanzeno (Val di Non, TN)
• When: Last days of May, culminating on the 29th
• What to see: The procession with the relics, the solemn Mass, the valley choirs
• Tradition: Offering of oil for the Martyrs' lamp by the local communities

A heritage of identity

The Feast of the Anaunian Holy Martyrs weaves together devotion, historical memory, and the popular traditions of the Val di Non. For visitors, it is an opportunity to discover an authentic rite, rooted in the oldest history of Trentino, amidst a landscape of apple orchards, villages, and sanctuaries that tell the story of over sixteen centuries of faith.