La Fanòve

The Fanòve of Acquaviva delle Fonti

The Fanòve is one of the most cherished folk traditions of Acquaviva delle Fonti, a town in the Metropolitan City of Bari, in the heart of Puglia. It is a large propitiatory bonfire lit every year on the second Tuesday of March, about a week before the patronal feast in honor of Maria Santissima di Costantinopoli, the town's protector. The ritual transforms Piazza dei Martiri into a gathering place for the entire community, blending faith, folklore, and conviviality.

The origins: the vow of 1642

Devotion to Maria SS. di Costantinopoli dates back to a vow made in 1642, when the people of Acquaviva thanked the Madonna for sparing the town from the plague that had struck the region in previous years. According to tradition, the sacred icon arrived by sea from Constantinople and was transported to the town on an ox-drawn cart. Since then, the veneration has been renewed every year at the beginning of March, accompanied by religious celebrations and ancient civil rites, such as the counting of silver half-coins, in memory of the original town vow.

The bonfire and the «Cima Cima» ritual

The Fanòve is more than just a large fire: it is a propitiatory ritual linked to the agricultural world. At the center of the bonfire, the «Cima Cima»—a decorated pole—is placed. According to popular belief, when the flames reach it and cause it to fall, the direction in which its top points indicates the district that will enjoy the most abundant harvest. It is an ancient gesture that intertwines religious devotion and hope for a good year, passed down from generation to generation.

An evening of celebration and community

The day begins with religious services and the distribution of blessed bread, continues in the afternoon with the characteristic parade of the «Cima Cima» through the town streets, and culminates in the evening with a torchlight procession, organized by the Associazione Amatori Atletica Acquaviva, which reaches Piazza dei Martiri. Here, around 8:00 PM, the great bonfire is lit, accompanied by fireworks. Between a panzerotto and a glass of wine, the locals experience one of the most identity-defining evenings of the year, capable of uniting generations in the spirit of tradition.