Madonna di Pertusavutte

A festival between the sacred and the profane

The Madonna di Pertusavutte is one of the most characteristic traditions of Francavilla in Sinni, a village in the Lucanian Pollino region, in the province of Potenza. It is celebrated on December 8th, the day of the Immaculate Conception, and uniquely combines religious devotion with the convivial ritual of new wine.

The meaning of the name

The curious dialect name "Pertusavutte" recalls the gesture of the tap of the barrel ("the hole of the barrel"): it is the moment when, after the religious service, the new wine of the year is opened. The festival thus becomes an occasion to celebrate the end of the agricultural cycle and the fruits of the earth.

The cellar tour

After the celebrations in church, the inhabitants engage in a tour of the town's cellars, where the new wine is tasted accompanied by typical specialties such as fritters, biscuits, and cheeses. The festival comes alive with songs and dances, also marked by the sound of traditional instruments made from goat and sheepskin, in a warm and deeply communal atmosphere.

A centuries-old tradition

The Madonna di Pertusavutte is a fixed-date event, rooted for generations in the life of the Municipality of Francavilla in Sinni, in the Province of Potenza. It represents a moment of strong identity for the Pollino community, which renews this bond between faith, wine, and conviviality every year.