Festival of Saint Mark Patron and Fortajada

Pordenone and its Evangelist

Saint Mark is the patron saint of Pordenone, just as he is for Venice, an inheritance of the city's long connection with the Serenissima. The Co-Cathedral of Saint Mark, with its Romanesque bell tower, one of the tallest in Friuli, is the heart of the festival that every year, around April 25th, fills the historic center with music, rites, and shared traditions. The event is promoted by the Municipality of Pordenone together with the Diocese of Concordia-Pordenone.

Sacred Music, Bells, and Pontifical Mass

The festival opens with the Patron's Concert in the Co-Cathedral and continues with the Solemn Vespers and evenings dedicated to great Venetian sacred music, from Giovanni Gabrieli to Claudio Monteverdi. On the patron saint's day, the bell concert entrusted to the Scampanotadors furlans (Furlan bell ringers) announces the day, followed by the Pontifical Mass presided over by the Bishop with the participation of civic and provincial authorities.

The Bòcolo, Saint Mark Prizes, and the Fortajada

For over ten years, Pordenone has embraced the Venetian tradition of the bòcolo, the red rosebud given to loved ones: Red Cross volunteers distribute them at the Loggia del Municipio and in Piazza Cavour, uniting symbols of love and solidarity. In the Council Chamber, the Saint Mark Prizes are also awarded to citizens distinguished for their merits in various fields. The day concludes with the fortajada picnic, a typical Pordenone omelet, accompanied by music and games for children.

A Festival That Tells the Story of the City

Between the sacred and the popular, the Festival of Saint Mark is the best occasion to discover the soul of Pordenone: its Cathedral, its link with Venice, the traditions of western Friuli, and a community that, in 2027, will experience being the Italian Capital of Culture.