Festa di San Gerardo (e delle Ciliegie)

The saint of charity and cherries

The Festa di San Gerardo celebrates the co-patron of Monza, San Gerardo dei Tintori, a beloved figure in the city of Brianza. Living in the Middle Ages, Gerardo is remembered for his charitable works: he transformed his home into the city's first secular hospital, now the site of the Oasi San Gerardo. Legend also links him to the miracle of the cherries, which the saint is said to have gifted in mid-winter to the cathedral custodians who allowed him to spend the night praying in the church.

Devotion and reenactment

On June 6th, the festival combines religious moments and popular tradition. The solemn mass celebrates the co-patron, while a evocative reenactment features the statue of the saint placed in the Lambro river, recalling another famous episode of his life. It is a rite that draws the people of Monza every year, deeply connected to Gerardo's figure and his history of solidarity.

The Sagra delle Ciliegie (Cherry Festival)

Around the devotion, the city comes alive with the Sagra delle Ciliegie: along Via San Gerardo and in Largo Carlo Esterle, stalls offer cherries, gastronomic products, and crafts throughout the day. The cherry, a symbolic fruit linked to the saint's miracle, becomes the protagonist of a festival that blends the sacred and the popular. For those visiting Monza during this period, the Festa di San Gerardo is an opportunity to discover a tradition deeply rooted in the identity of the city and the Brianza region.

What to expect

• The solemn mass for the co-patron San Gerardo dei Tintori
• The reenactment of the saint's statue in the Lambro river
• The Sagra delle Ciliegie with stalls and typical products
• Crafts and gastronomy in Via San Gerardo