Festa di San Martino

Saint Martin, Patron of the Garden City

The Festa di San Martino is the patronal festival of Cusano Milanino, a municipality in the Metropolitan City of Milan known as the "Garden City" for its green urban planning from the early twentieth century. It is celebrated on November 11th, the feast day of Saint Martin of Tours, a 4th-century bishop among the most venerated saints in Christian tradition.

Celebrations in the City

The churches of Cusano Milanino, including the Church of San Martino e l'Immacolata named after the patron saint, and the entire city often bring forward the celebrations to the Sunday closest to November 11th. The Associazione Sorriso, with the patronage of the Municipality, is traditionally present throughout the day with a stall in Piazza Martiri di Tienanmen, in front of the Town Hall.

The Legend of the Cloak

The feast of Saint Martin recalls the famous legend of the saint who, as a Roman soldier, cut his cloak in half to give it to a beggar. The recurrence of November 11th, also linked to the so-called "St. Martin's summer," has for centuries been a deeply felt event in Lombard popular devotion and tradition. For those familiar with North Milan, the patronal festival is an opportunity to rediscover the community spirit of Cusano Milanino.