Festa Patronale di Santa Maria ad Nives

Atella and its patron saint

In the heart of the Vulture region, in the province of Potenza, the village of Atella dedicates its most important festival of the year to its protector, Santa Maria ad Nives - Our Lady of the Snows. The commemoration falls on August 5th, a date linked to the ancient legend of the miraculous snowfall in Rome in mid-August. In Atella, it translates into a day of intense devotion and joyful popular participation.

Between faith and tradition

The religious heart of the festival is the solemn mass in the church dedicated to Our Lady, followed by the procession that carries the statue of the patron saint through the streets of the historic center, accompanied by the faithful, the clergy, and the musical band. It is the most anticipated moment, where devotion and the village's identity merge.

The civil festival

The civil part of the festival unfolds around the religious celebration, organized by the Municipality of Atella together with local associations as part of the summer events calendar: band concerts, music, stalls, and the traditional fireworks that conclude the day, illuminating the Vulture sky. For Atella natives living away, it is also an occasion to return to the village and for intergenerational encounters.

A summer in Vulture

The festival of Santa Maria ad Nives is part of an August rich in events in the Melfese area: those who experience it can discover an authentic village, its gastronomy, and the volcanic landscapes of Vulture, amidst Aglianico vineyards and the Monticchio lakes.