Historic Parade of the Turks

A Tradition Spanning Centuries

If there's one event that tells the soul of Potenza, it's the Historic Parade of the Turks. Documented since 1578, it is one of the oldest and most evocative popular events in Southern Italy: a monumental procession that every year, around May 29th, transforms the Lucanian capital into a grand open-air stage. Over a thousand costumed participants, knights, allegorical floats, and symbols that condense almost a millennium of history, faith, and legend parade through the streets of the historic center.

The Myth at its Origins

The legend that gives the parade its name is rooted in Saracen incursions along the coasts and valleys of the South. Tradition has it that the city, threatened by the Turks, was saved thanks to the miraculous intercession of San Gerardo La Porta, bishop and patron saint of Potenza, who appeared to defend his citizens. From that myth arises the narrative thread of the procession, which stages three great historical scenes: the Renaissance era with Count Alfonso de Guevara, the suggestions of the 19th century, and the miracle of San Gerardo, the true religious heart of the celebration.

The Iaccara, Fire and Symbol

The climax of the parade is the lighting of the Iaccara: an enormous ritual torch about twelve meters long and weighing over a ton, built entirely with reeds and wood and carried on shoulders along the procession. When it is lit, in the heart of the historic center, the entire city holds its breath: it is the sign that the festival has reached its peak, amidst applause, flashes, and the collective emotion of a community.

Five Days of Celebration

The parade is the centerpiece of a broader program that, between late May, animates Potenza with the Potenza Folk Festival, the Borgo dei Sapori (Village of Flavors), markets, musical performances, and the solemn religious procession dedicated to the patron saint. A calendar that unites the civil and spiritual dimensions, capable of attracting over one hundred thousand visitors to the city.

A Living Heritage

Promoted by the Municipality of Potenza with the support of the Province of Potenza, the Parade of the Turks is much more than a re-enactment: it is the story that the people of Potenza tell about themselves, passed down from generation to generation. For those visiting Basilicata at the end of May, it is the perfect opportunity to discover an authentic South, proud of its roots and capable of popular theatricality of rare intensity.