Festa Patronale dei Santi Pietro Apostolo e Antonio da Padova

The village gathers around its patrons

At the end of June, Miglionico - a small and charming village in the Matera hills, famous for the Castello del Malconsiglio - pauses to honour its patron saints: Saint Peter the Apostle and Saint Anthony of Padua. It is a festival that blends popular devotion and cultural identity, intensely experienced by the entire community.

A tradition dating back to 1623

The origins of the festival date back to 1623, when Baron Pietr'Antonio Revertera, miraculously healed, wished to formalize the patronal feast on June 29th. The following year, the religious program was formalized, giving rise to a centuries-old tradition that still marks the life of the village today.

The chariot pulled by mules

The most evocative and anticipated element is the triumphal chariot pulled by six mules, one of the practices most cherished in Miglionico's collective memory. Recovered thanks to the commitment of volunteers, this tradition revives images of the past, accompanying the solemn procession on June 29th along with the blessing of the wheat before the sacred effigy of the patron saint.

The San Pietrini

The group of San Pietrini, a committee of volunteers founded in 2024 who collaborate with the Parish of Santa Maria Maggiore, are the custodians and promoters of these traditions. They are responsible, among other things, for creating a miniature of the ancient chariot, displayed in the Church of the Purgatorio, and for a renewed impetus in enhancing the festival.

Between faith and popular celebration

Musical bands, illuminations, stalls, and fireworks complete the festival days, transforming Miglionico into a focal point for the villages of the Province of Matera. It is the ideal opportunity to discover the historic centre and the famous Castello del Malconsiglio, the scene of the Barons' Conspiracy against Ferdinand of Aragon in 1485.