Festival of Saint Martin

Saint Martin, patron of the Garden City

The Festival of Saint Martin is the patronal feast of Cusano Milanino, a municipality in the Metropolitan City of Milan known as the "Garden City" for its early 20th-century green urban planning. It is celebrated on November 11th, the day of Saint Martin of Tours, a 4th-century bishop among the most venerated saints in Christian tradition.

Celebrations in the City

The churches of Cusano Milanino, including the Church of San Martino e l'Immacolata named after the patron saint, and the entire city often bring forward the celebrations to the Sunday closest to November 11th. The Associazione Sorriso, with the patronage of the Municipality, is traditionally present all day with a stall in Piazza Martiri di Tienanmen, in front of the Town Hall.

The Legend of the Cloak

The Festival of Saint Martin recalls the famous legend of the saint who, as a Roman soldier, cut his cloak in half to give to a beggar. The recurrence of November 11th, also linked to the so-called "Saint Martin's summer," has for centuries been a deeply felt event of Lombard devotion and popular tradition. For those who know North Milan, the patronal feast is an opportunity to rediscover the community dimension of Cusano Milanino.