Festival of Saint Nicholas the Great

The Patron Saint of the Stone Village

In Guardia Perticara, a charming village in the province of Potenza, listed among the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy, the Festival of Saint Nicholas the Great celebrates the town's patron saint. The parish church dedicated to him houses a 17th-century wooden statue depicting Saint Nicholas, in whose honor the festival takes place every year on May 9th.

Procession and Tradition

On the day of the festival, the community gathers around the patron saint with a Solemn Mass and a procession of the statue through the village streets, accompanied by the musical band and the participation of the faithful. The Church of Saint Nicholas the Great is also where, during the winter months, the statue of the Madonna del Sauro rests: the two cults thus intertwine the spiritual life of the town throughout the year.

Community Festival and Homecoming

Alongside the religious rites, civil celebrations liven up Guardia Perticara with illuminations, music, and moments of conviviality among the characteristic paved alleys and stone portals. The festival attracts residents and emigrants to the village, a place also awarded the Orange Flag by the Touring Club Italiano.