Historical Re-enactment of the Vow of Sant'Abbondio or the 12 Saturdays

A vow spanning nearly four centuries

The Historical Re-enactment of the Vow of Sant'Abbondio or the 12 Saturdays is one of the most heartfelt popular events in Upper Garda Trentino. It takes place in Dro, in the province of Trento, in the Trentino-Alto Adige region, and its roots lie in a real historical event: on January 31, 1632, the inhabitants of Dro and the hamlet of Ceniga, gathered "with one voice," made a solemn vow to God and to Saints Sebastian, Roch, and Abbondio for having been miraculously spared from the plague epidemic of 1630, the same one described by Alessandro Manzoni in "The Betrothed" (I Promessi Sposi).

The vow committed the community to abstain from work, organize a procession, and have a mass celebrated in the church of Sant'Abbondio every first Saturday of the month, for twelve consecutive months: hence the popular name "vow of the 12 Saturdays."

The re-enactment today

Organized by the Circolo Culturale Amici dell'Oratorio di Dro in collaboration with the Municipality of Dro, the re-enactment transforms the town's historic center into a 17th-century village. The most solemn moment is the historical pageant, featuring about two hundred participants in period costumes who parade through the town streets accompanied by the S. Abbondio Drum Group and the Dro Historical Group, leading up to the renewal of the vow: the mayor, the parish priest, and the association president sign the parchment that perpetuates its memory.

Palio delle Botti, shows, and tradition

The playful heart of the festival is the Palio delle Botti, a competition that sees teams from Dro, Ceniga, Pietramurata, and Drena challenge each other in rolling barrels along the town's course. There is no shortage of entertainment:

• Concerts and historical readings for children during the first days of the event
• A suggestive historical dinner at the castle of Drena
• Medieval shows with jugglers and fire-eaters, historical games for children, and flag-wavers
• Falconry displays and spectacular dancing fountains with water and fire effects
• Fireworks on the banks of the Sarca river

The traditional gastronomy is unmissable: in the evenings, the kitchen offers typical Trentino dishes, while on the Sunday of the procession, the historic "pasta e fasoi and pan de molche" is distributed for free, renewing the spirit of community that lies at the heart of the vow.

An identity-defining event for Dro

More than just a costume party, the Re-enactment of the Vow of Sant'Abbondio is a civic and religious ritual that the entire community of Dro renews from generation to generation. It is an appointment that unites historical memory, popular faith, and conviviality, capable of attracting visitors from all over Garda Trentino and beyond every year.