Il Mascio di Pietrapertosa

A marriage between trees in the heart of the Lucanian Dolomites

Perched on the rocky spires of the Lucanian Dolomites, in the province of Potenza, the village of Pietrapertosa preserves one of the most fascinating rites of Basilicata: Il Mascio, an ancient arboreal cult that still resists time today, despite having changed its meaning and function. The festival is intertwined with devotion to Saint Anthony of Padua and is celebrated every year on the Sunday following June 13th, the saint's day.

The rite: from the woods to the village

The rite is divided into several phases that involve the entire community. On June 13th, the "Cerro" – also called "Maggio" – is chosen and felled in the woods of Montepiano. In the following days, the "Cima", a dense holly plant, is cut and transported to the village with its crown resting on the yoke of two young cows. At the same time, the debarked Maggio is pulled by several pairs of oxen, the so-called "paricchi".

The climax is the grafting of the two plants, the symbolic "marriage" between the Mascio and the Cima. This is followed by the procession of the two trees, with the general involvement of anyone who wishes to participate: the arrival in the village is triumphant, accompanied by the town band and the offering of wine and biscuits to those present. The tree is finally erected using ropes, leading to the evocative final climb.

Faith and popular tradition

Alongside the arboreal dimension, the festival retains its religious heart: in the morning, the statue of Saint Anthony of Padua passes through the village streets in a solemn procession. Il Mascio thus represents a unique synthesis of nature worship, Christian devotion, and community identity, an expression of a Basilicata that has managed to pass down its most ancient rites from generation to generation.

One of the most beautiful villages in Italy

Pietrapertosa, certified among The Most Beautiful Villages in Italy, is the highest municipality in Basilicata and offers breathtaking views of the Lucanian Dolomites. Experiencing Il Mascio means discovering a village suspended among the rocks, where tradition becomes a collective spectacle.