Feast of the Assumption

The Marian Ferragosto of Altamura

The Feast of Saint Mary of the Assumption, which the people of Altamura affectionately call «Sanda Marì» in their local dialect, is the patronal festival of the Municipality of Altamura, in the province of Bari, in the heart of the Apulian Alta Murgia. It is celebrated every year on August 15th, the day of the Assumption of Mary, and has been the community's most heartfelt event for centuries, drawing back many emigrants and attracting visitors from neighboring towns.

The Cathedral dedicated to the Assumption

The spiritual center of the festival is the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Mary of the Assumption, one of the symbolic monuments of Puglia: it was commissioned by Emperor Frederick II of Swabia in the 13th century, and its facade, with its famous rose window and Gothic portal, dominates the historic center. The entire civic devotion revolves around this mother church, dedicated to the Assumption.

Between faith and public celebration

The festival combines two inseparable souls in Southern tradition. On one hand, the religious dimension: the triduum of preparation in the preceding days, the solemn masses that follow one another throughout the day of August 15th, and, above all, the grand evening procession with the statue of the Virgin, accompanied by the Archbishop, the clergy, civil and military authorities, and a crowd of faithful along the streets of the center. On the other hand, the popular dimension: the luminarie (light displays) that illuminate streets and squares, brass band concerts, the lyrical-symphonic concert, fireworks, and the inevitable funfair that enlivens the city for several days.

A ritual that marks the summer

For Altamura, the Feast of the Assumption is much more than a liturgical recurrence: it is the moment when the city recognizes itself in its own identity, amidst the notes of the bands, the scent of the stalls, and the PDO bread that accompanies every Murgian festival. An ideal opportunity to discover the historic center, the Frederickian Cathedral, and the hospitality of one of the most characteristic cities in inland Puglia.

Note: the dates for the 2026 edition follow the fixed recurrence of August 15th; the detailed program is published by the Municipality of Altamura and the parish in the days immediately preceding the festival.