Festivities in Honor of Saint Amatus

A patronal feast in the heart of Alta Irpinia

The Festivities in Honor of Saint Amatus are the most cherished event in the calendar of the Municipality of Nusco, in the Province of Avellino, set in the mountainous heart of Campania. In the final days of September, the village, perched at an altitude of 914 meters on the hills of Alta Irpinia, prepares to honor its first bishop and patron saint with a week of religious celebrations and secular events that involve the entire community.

This is not a tourist-oriented event; it is the town's true identity festival, calling back those who have emigrated and filling the historic center with families, choirs, and brass bands. The focal point is the Co-Cathedral of Saint Amatus, overlooking Piazza Vescovado, in whose crypt the saint's remains are kept.

Who was Saint Amatus

Amatus was born in Nusco to a noble family of Lombard origin and became a priest at a young age. In 1048, he was consecrated as the first bishop of the newly formed diocese of Nusco by Archbishop Alfano I of Salerno. He restored existing churches and built new ones, including the town's cathedral, and bequeathed his entire family estate to the diocese in a document known as the Chartula Iudicati. He died in Nusco on September 30, 1093, and was canonized during the 12th century.

The Nusco calendar dedicates two distinct commemorations to him: May 28, the memory of the translation of his relics to the cathedral crypt, and September 30, the day of his death as recorded in the Roman Martyrology. This latter date marks the culmination of the end-of-September festivities, which are the most widely attended.

The religious program

The week opens with widespread celebrations: the thanksgiving mass in the crypt dedicated to the saint, the celebration brought to the elderly at the local nursing home, and moments of prayer and reflection led by the parish priest, Father Dino Tisato. Recent editions have featured sacred music concerts performed by the parish Schola Cantorum and the "Sant'Amato Nusco" Polyphonic Choir, offering the public a repertoire tied to the bishop and local liturgy.

September 30 is the central day: three Holy Masses follow one another in the Co-Cathedral, early in the morning, mid-morning, and in the evening. The final celebration, animated by the choir, concludes with the solemn procession that carries the patron saint's statue through the village streets, amidst throngs of the faithful, illuminations, and the sound of bands.

Secular events

Alongside the liturgical portion, the Saint Amatus Festival Committee and the Municipality build a secular program each year that, in recent editions, has included:

• concerts and parades by guest brass bands from neighboring towns, such as those from Bagnoli Irpino, Andretta, and Lacedonia;
• book presentations dedicated to local history and the figure of the saint, hosted in municipal halls;
• the Polyphonic Choir concert in the nave of the Co-Cathedral;
• the "Saint Amatus Cup" soccer tournament, with semi-finals and finals at the municipal sports facilities;
• evenings of popular and folk music in Piazza De Sanctis;
• the commemoration at the war memorial and solidarity initiatives by volunteers, such as blood drives.

The village during the festival

Nusco is one of the best-preserved historic centers in Alta Irpinia: paved alleys, stone portals, and glimpses that open suddenly onto the valleys below. During the festival days, the town changes its rhythm, the squares become the community's living room, and celebrations extend into the evening. Visitors from outside find an authentic atmosphere, far removed from standardized events: here, the patronal feast is, first and foremost, a local affair.

When it takes place

The festivities are traditionally concentrated in the last week of September and culminate on the 30th, the liturgical day of Saint Amatus. Dates and the detailed program are released each year by the Festival Committee and the Parish a few weeks before the event, through the channels of the Municipality of Nusco and the local Irpinian press. It is therefore advisable to check updated information before traveling.