Feast of the Holy Martyrs of Otranto
The city's patronal feast, held from August 13th to 15th, commemorating the Eight Hundred Martyrs of Otranto.
About Holy Martyrs of Otranto
A festival of memory and identity for Otranto
The Feast of the Holy Martyrs of Otranto is the most intense and widely attended moment of the year for the city of Otranto, in the Province of Lecce, at the easternmost tip of Puglia and Italy. Every year, from August 13th to 15th, the entire community gathers to honor the memory of the Eight Hundred Martyrs: the citizens who, after the city fell to Ottoman troops in 1480, were massacred on the Colle della Minerva for refusing to renounce their Christian faith.
Venerated for centuries as Blessed, the Eight Hundred Martyrs of Otranto were proclaimed saints by Pope Francis on May 12, 2013, in the first canonization of his pontificate. Since then, the patronal feast has taken on even greater significance, drawing faithful from across the Archdiocese and visitors from all over Salento.
Faith, history, and civil commemoration
The celebration has a dual nature: religious and civil. In the weeks leading up to the feast, the Cathedral hosts the solemn Tredicina, a spiritual preparation journey led by various pastoral zones and accompanied by the Archdiocese's choirs. August 13th is dedicated to the civil commemoration of the massacre: religious, civil, and military authorities march from the Town Hall to the Piazzale degli Eroi for a wreath-laying ceremony and commemorative speech, while late in the evening, a vigil on the hill of martyrdom renews the message of hope of the Eight Hundred.
August 14th is the liturgical heart of the feast: in the morning, the solemn pontifical mass in the Cathedral presided over by the Archbishop; in the afternoon, the procession with the urn of the relics of the Holy Martyrs, carried on the shoulders of the diocesan priests through the streets of the historic center, between the Norman basilica with its famous floor mosaic and the walls overlooking the Adriatic.
Music, taste, and popular celebration
Alongside the religious dimension, the civil program transforms Otranto into a grand popular celebration: brass band concerts, evening musical shows, illuminations, and the traditional fireworks over the harbor to close the festivities. During these same days, the historic center hosts "Sentieri del Gusto", a food, wine, and craft event that showcases typical Salento products and the work of master artisans.
Experiencing the Feast of the Holy Martyrs means discovering Otranto in its most authentic form: a city that weaves together history, spirituality, and popular tradition in one of the most beautiful and evocative villages on the Apulian Adriatic coast.
Holy Martyrs of Otranto — edition 2026
For 2026, Otranto confirms the historic dates of its patronal feast, from August 13th to 15th, with the religious calendar already set by the Archdiocese and the civil program managed by the Municipality. Spiritual preparation begins on July 31st in the Cathedral with the start of the solemn Tredicina.
The three days of the festival alternate moments of intense devotion — the commemoration of the 1480 massacre, the archiepiscopal pontifical mass, the procession of the relic urn — with civil and musical events, including brass band concerts and the "Sentieri del Gusto" food and wine event, now in its 4th edition.
Programme Holy Martyrs of Otranto 2026
July 31 – Start of the Tredicina
- 8:00 PM, in the Cathedral: Start of the solemn Tredicina with a Eucharistic Celebration presided over by H.E. Msgr. Francesco Neri, Archbishop of Otranto, and the Jubilee of the Archdiocese Choirs.
August 1 – 12 – Tredicina
- 7:30 PM, in the Cathedral: Eucharistic Celebration and Tredicina animated by the various pastoral zones of the Archdiocese.
Wednesday, August 13 – Civil commemoration of the massacre
- Early evening: The Archbishop, civil, military, and religious authorities depart from the Town Hall and reach the Piazzale degli Eroi, where, after laying a wreath, the commemorative speech for the Otranto massacre is held.
- Late evening: Diocesan vigil on the hill of martyrdom to renew the message of hope and civil commitment of the Eight Hundred Martyrs.
Thursday, August 14 – Pontifical mass and procession
- 11:00 AM, in the Cathedral: Solemn pontifical mass presided over by the Archbishop, with the presence of authorities, the diocesan presbytery, and wide participation of the laity.
- Afternoon: Procession with the urn containing the relics of the Holy Martyrs, carried through the city streets by the diocesan priests.
Friday, August 15 – Musical show
- Bersaglieri concert by the "Ass. Musicisti Ionici" group: gathering at the Madonna Alto Mare staircase at 9:30 AM, departure at 10:00 AM, wreath-laying at 10:30 AM, matinee at 11:00 AM.
- Evening: Gathering at the Port Square and parade at 8:30 PM, concert at 9:30 PM.
August 13 – 14 – 15 – Sentieri del Gusto
- 4th edition of the "Sentieri del Gusto" food, wine, and craft event, featuring typical Salento products and works by master artisans in the historic center.
Highlights Holy Martyrs of Otranto 2026
Prices Holy Martyrs of Otranto 2026
Practical information — Holy Martyrs of Otranto
When
Every year from August 13th to 15th. Preparatory celebrations (Tredicina) begin in late July in the Cathedral.
Where
Otranto (LE), Puglia. Religious celebrations take place in the Cathedral of Santa Maria Annunziata; the civil commemoration at the Piazzale degli Eroi and on the hill of martyrdom; the procession and civil events in the historic center and at the harbor.
How to get there
Otranto can be reached by car via the SS16 and the provincial roads of lower Salento. The train station is served by Ferrovie del Sud Est with connections from Lecce and Maglie. During the festival, it is recommended to park in areas outside the historic center, which is closed to traffic.
Admission
All celebrations and civil events are free and open to the public.
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Where does it take place — Holy Martyrs of Otranto
Cattedrale di Otranto e centro storico