Great Festival of the Holy Cross
The patronal feast of Montemurlo dedicated to the venerated relic of the Holy Cross
About Holy Cross Festival
A tradition at the heart of Montemurlo
The Great Festival of the Holy Cross is the patronal feast of Montemurlo, a town in the Province of Prato, in the heart of Tuscany. At the center of the celebrations is the venerated relic of the Holy Cross, a symbol that has accompanied the spiritual and civic life of the Montemurlo community for centuries. As the organizers recall, the Cross of Montemurlo "carries with it the values of peace, civil coexistence, and respect," values that the festival renews every year through rituals, meetings, and moments of sharing.
Why it is called the "Great Festival"
The name "Great Festival" is no coincidence: the celebration takes on this special title when the May 3rd anniversary falls on a Sunday. On those occasions, Montemurlo brings to life a particularly rich and solemn program that spans an entire week and involves the whole municipal territory, from the central squares to the peripheral districts and parishes.
The journey of the Holy Cross
The heart of the festival is the journey of the Holy Cross, which departs from the Pieve di San Giovanni Decollato on the main day and gradually touches the main communities of the area: Bagnolo, Oste, Fornacelle, and the Sacro Cuore church. The processions are accompanied by the Montemurlo Historical Group and the "G. Verdi" Philharmonic, which give the festival a solemn and deeply participatory character, with the presence of city authorities and the Brothers of Mercy.
Between faith, history, and folklore
The festival combines religious, cultural, and popular dimensions. Alongside solemn masses and processions, the program offers exhibitions dedicated to the history of the Cross and the territory, theatrical performances, guided walks among castles and historic gardens, conferences that delve into the connection with figures like Castruccio Castracani, and musical entertainment with concerts in the square.
Food stalls and festivities in the square
The convivial dimension is not forgotten: in Piazza della Repubblica, there are food stalls managed by the Filiera Corta, performances by musicians and flag-wavers of the Historical Group, and evening musical entertainment. The festival concludes in Piazza della Libertà and other squares in the town with concerts and shows open to everyone.
An event for the whole community
The Great Festival of the Holy Cross is promoted by the Sacro Cuore Parish with the patronage of the Municipality of Montemurlo and the collaboration of numerous local entities, including the Pro Loco Montemurlo APS, Il Borgo della Rocca, and Il Villaggio. An event that represents one of the most heartfelt moments of the year for the inhabitants of Montemurlo and for visitors who wish to discover one of the most authentic traditions of Tuscany.
Holy Cross Festival — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of the Great Festival of the Holy Cross opened on Saturday, May 2nd, with the inauguration of the exhibition "The Cross of Montemurlo is the heart of the Cristiani Triptych" and the presentation of booklets dedicated to the history of the relic. Sunday, May 3rd, the day of the patronal feast, celebrations began at 7:30 AM with the solemn opening and Holy Mass in the Pieve, followed at 4:00 PM by the procession accompanied by the Montemurlo Historical Group and the "G. Verdi" Philharmonic.
The festival continued in Piazza della Repubblica with the food stalls of the Filiera Corta, performances by flag-wavers, and musical entertainment, concluding the evening in Piazza della Libertà with the Pooh tribute concert by the band "Amici per sempre". In the following days, the journey of the Holy Cross touched the parishes of Bagnolo, Oste, Fornacelle, and Sacro Cuore, with the "From Castle to Castle" walk, the theatrical show "A Great Dream", and the conference dedicated to Castruccio and the Holy Cross. The closing took place on Sunday, May 10th, with the final procession led by the Brothers of Mercy.
Programme Holy Cross Festival 2026
Saturday, May 2nd
- 5:30 PM – Oratorio ex Compagnia Corpus Domini: inauguration of the exhibition "The Cross of Montemurlo is the heart of the Cristiani Triptych" (curated by Cinzia Menichetti)
- 6:30 PM – Presentation of the booklets "The Chronicles of the Holy Cross" and "Montemurlo and its Cross", with a buffet by donation
Sunday, May 3rd – Patronal Feast
- 7:30 AM – Pieve: solemn opening with Holy Mass
- 4:00 PM – Procession with the Montemurlo Historical Group and the "G. Verdi" Philharmonic
- From 7:00 PM – Piazza della Repubblica: food stalls (Filiera Corta), flag-wavers, and musical entertainment
- 7:30 PM – Galleria Sala Banti: photo exhibition "The Cross Festival through time"
- 9:00 PM – Piazza della Libertà : "Pooh Tribute" concert with the band "Amici per sempre"
May 4th to 8th
- Journey of the Holy Cross in the parishes of Bagnolo, Oste, Fornacelle, and Sacro Cuore
Saturday, May 9th
- 10:00 AM – "From Castle to Castle" walk
- 9:00 PM – Pieve San Giovanni Decollato: theatrical show "A Great Dream"
Sunday, May 10th – Conclusion
- 11:00 AM – Conference "Castruccio and the Holy Cross of Montemurlo, the history"
- 4:30 PM – Final procession with the Brothers of Mercy and the Giuseppe Verdi Philharmonic
Highlights Holy Cross Festival 2026
- "Great Festival" year: May 3rd fell on a Sunday
- Solemn procession with the Montemurlo Historical Group and flag-wavers
- Pooh tribute concert in Piazza della LibertÃ
- Exhibitions dedicated to the history of the Holy Cross
- Theatrical show "A Great Dream" and conference on Castruccio Castracani
Prices Holy Cross Festival 2026
Practical information — Holy Cross Festival
How to get there
Montemurlo is located in the Province of Prato, along the Prato-Pistoia axis. By car, it can be reached from the A11 Firenze-Mare motorway (Prato Ovest or Prato Est exit) and the SS66 Pistoiese road. By train, the reference station is Prato Centrale or Montemurlo, with regional rail connections; from Florence, the journey takes about 30-40 minutes.
Admission and times
Admission to the festival events is free, unless otherwise specified. The celebrations take place between the Pieve di San Giovanni Decollato, the central squares (Piazza della Repubblica, Piazza della Libertà ), and the parish churches of the districts over the course of a week, from May 3rd to May 10th.
Tips
It is recommended to consult the full program published by the Pro Loco Montemurlo APS for updated times and in case of bad weather, as some outdoor events may be moved indoors (Sala Banti).
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Where does it take place — Holy Cross Festival
Pieve di San Giovanni Decollato