Festa della Sacra Spina

A relic from 1495

In San Giovanni Bianco, in the Brembana Valley (province of Bergamo), a rare and revered relic has been kept since 1495: a thorn from Christ's Crown. The Festa della Sacra Spina revolves around it, an event of faith and tradition held on Passion Sunday, two weeks before Easter. It is one of the oldest and most defining religious festivals in the Brembana area.

Novena, processions, and devotion

The festival is preceded by a preparatory novena. The heart of the celebrations takes place over the weekend: on Saturday, a historical procession with flag-wavers starts from San Rocco and leads to the opening of the tabernacle housing the Spina, with the relic on display. Sunday features the solemn vespers and the pontifical procession, presided over by the bishop, culminating in the rite of the relic's return. A rich and evocative liturgy that draws thousands of faithful and visitors.

Bonfires, lights, and fireworks

Alongside the religious dimension, the Sacra Spina has a popular and spectacular side. The eve of the festival is lit by characteristic bonfires, while the celebration is punctuated by fireworks that colour the valley sky. Throughout the event, the village comes alive with a funfair and stalls: about thirty attractions in Piazza Alpini and the weekend markets provide a joyful backdrop to the rites.

The tenth anniversary of the flowering

The 2026 festival holds special significance: it marks the tenth anniversary of the 'flowering' of the Sacra Spina, the miraculous sprout that appeared on the thorn in 2016, which greatly amplified devotion. Special celebrations are planned for this occasion, with the presence of the Bishop of Bergamo. The Festa della Sacra Spina thus confirms its role as a symbolic event for San Giovanni Bianco and the entire Brembana Valley, where faith, history, and community intertwine uniquely.