Festa della Madonna della Pietà con processione dei cinti

An ancient devotion at the foot of the Pollino

In Terranova di Pollino, a village at over 900 meters altitude nestled in the heart of the Pollino National Park, faith has the face of the Madonna della Pietà. Every year, on the first weekend of July, the community gathers around its sanctuary for one of the most heartfelt festivals on the Lucanian side of the massif, an event that blends spirituality, peasant tradition, and the imposing natural scenery of the mountains.

The rite of the cinti

The heart of the festival is the procession of the cinti. These are wooden structures covered with ears of wheat and candles, symbols of the harvest and thanksgiving, which the women of the village carry balanced on their heads. The slow and swaying procession is marked by the sound of bagpipes, accordions, and drums, with moments of tarantella that transform the pilgrimage into a choral celebration. It is a gesture of devotion passed down from generation to generation, telling of the deep bond between the community, the land, and the sacred.

Between mountain and tradition

During the weekend, the mountain around the sacred building resonates with folk music. The procession concludes with a prayer in church, followed by the large community lunches that have always accompanied Lucanian festivals. Terranova di Pollino is also a custodian of ancient artisanal knowledge, such as the handmade construction of traditional musical instruments, including the characteristic cupa-cupa, which often accompany the celebrations.

An opportunity to discover the Pollino

The festival is also an excellent opportunity to visit the village and the surrounding area, among the beech forests of the Pollino, the Gole della Garavina, and the trails leading to the highest peaks of the southern Apennines. Promoted by the Municipality of Terranova di Pollino in the province of Potenza together with the parish, the celebration combines religious and naturalistic appeal in one of the most authentic and wild territories of Basilicata.