Festa Patronale di San Donato

San Donato, patron saint of Anzi

Anzi, a charming village in the province of Potenza known as the "village of stars" for its dedication to astronomical observation, celebrates its patron saint San Donato every year. The festival, one of the most attended in the interior of Basilicata, takes place in the first days of August and revolves around the Sanctuary of San Donato, a place of devotion and the spiritual heart of the community.

The novena and the candlelit procession

The celebrations are preceded by a long novena, which from July 29th to August 6th marks the days with morning prayers and masses at the Sanctuary and evening celebrations in the Mother Church. Among the most exciting moments is the candlelit procession that accompanies the Saint from the Mother Church to the Sanctuary, in a solemn and evocative atmosphere that illuminates the summer night.

The fair and the civil celebration

Alongside the religious dimension, the festival offers a traditional fair in Contrada San Donato, with stalls, typical products, and entertainment, and a rich civil program of dancing evenings, concerts, and shows. Over the years, the program has hosted orchestras, tribute bands, and nationally renowned artists, transforming the village into a meeting point for residents and returning emigrants.

Solemn masses and fireworks

The central days, August 7th and 8th, feature solemn masses at the Sanctuary, often presided over by the Archbishop, and processions connecting the Sanctuary to the Mother Church. The grand finale is entrusted to the fireworks display at midnight, which illuminates the skies of Anzi, a town that makes stars its identity.

• Novena at the Sanctuary of San Donato
• Candlelit procession
• Traditional fair in Contrada San Donato
• Concerts and dancing evenings
• Midnight fireworks display

Organized by the Municipality of Anzi, the Festa di San Donato is the village's most important summer event, where faith, tradition, and popular celebration intertwine in the heart of Basilicata.