Festa Patronale di Sant'Innocenzo Martire

A devotion spanning almost four centuries

In Grassano, a lively village in the province of Matera overlooking the Basento valley, the Festa Patronale di Sant'Innocenzo Martire is the most anticipated event of the year. With almost four centuries of history behind it, the festival takes place every September, traditionally around September 19-22, and brings the entire community and many emigrants returning for the occasion together around the patron saint.

The saint carried on shoulders by young people in Roman costume

The heart of the festival is the solemn procession that accompanies the 17th-century statue of Sant'Innocenzo through the village streets. The most evocative moment is the parade on September 22, the day of the solemnity: the saint is carried on the shoulders of young people dressed in Roman costume, a tradition established for over forty years, while the morning begins with the solemn Mass and the blessing of the wheat. The key-handing ceremony and the historic fair on September 19, of ancient origins, are also part of the festivities.

Festival of faith and people

Alongside the religious dimension, civil celebrations liven up Grassano for several days: musical bands, illuminations, concerts, shows, food stalls with Lucanian specialties, and traditional fireworks. Recent editions have hosted concerts by popular artists and moments of civil significance, such as the awarding of honorary citizenship. Visiting Grassano during the festival means discovering a village with a strong identity, in the land described by Carlo Levi, at its most intense and participatory moment.