Paniere in Festa

A tradition that smells of spring

Paniere in Festa is the event that, during the Easter period, brings the historic center of Santa Maria a Monte to life—a charming medieval village in the lower Valdarno, in the province of Pisa, in the heart of Tuscany. The event combines popular devotion, historical re-enactment, and a village festival, attracting visitors from all over the region every year, drawn by one of the most characteristic events in the Terre di Pisa area.

Blessed Diana Giuntini and the miracle of the flowers

At the center of the festival is the figure of Blessed Diana Giuntini, who lived in Santa Maria a Monte over seven hundred years ago, between the end of the 13th and the beginning of the 14th century. Proclaimed blessed by popular acclaim for her charity toward the poor, she has been the village's patron for centuries. Her body, preserved in an urn in the Collegiate Church of San Giovanni Apostolo ed Evangelista since 1695, is the object of deep devotion. Tradition tells of the famous miracle of the flowers: the bread that young Diana secretly carried to the needy supposedly turned into flowers to escape her father's stern gaze, only to turn back into bread. It is this legend that inspires the festival.

The Procession of the Paniere

The most emotional moment is the Procession of the Paniere, a historical re-enactment of the translation of the Blessed's remains from the ancient church of San Dalmazio to the Collegiate Church. The procession starts from the Via Costa area, at the foot of the hill, and winds up the alleys of the center to the main church. The village districts offer the Blessed a large basket full of flowers, the paniera, carried in balance on the head by a lady accompanied by a knight: dozens of participants in period costumes make up one of the most scenic floral processions in Tuscany.

Exhibitions, shows, and the underground city

Surrounding the religious ritual, Paniere in Festa offers a program spread throughout the village streets: painting and photography exhibitions, street performances, live music, and plenty of activities for children, from wooden games to stilt walkers, soap bubbles, and puppets. Particularly popular are the theatrical guided tours of the underground city, which lead visitors to discover the hidden passages of the medieval castle.

The village museums

During the festival, the main museums in the historic center are open:

• La Rocca Archaeological Area with the Civic Museum dedicated to Blessed Diana;
• Casa Carducci Museum, where the family of the famous poet Giosuè Carducci lived between 1856 and 1858;
• Clock Tower, an ancient defensive structure offering a wide panorama over the lower Valdarno.

An event for the whole community

Organized by the Municipality of Santa Maria a Monte, Paniere in Festa is a free event that involves the entire community and represents a perfect opportunity to discover an authentic Tuscan village, amidst art, history, faith, and the popular traditions of the Tuscany Region.