Patronal Feast of Saint Mary of the Assumption

The patron saint's feast of Bastiglia

On August 15th, the community of Bastiglia, a municipality of just over four thousand inhabitants in the Province of Modena, in Emilia-Romagna, celebrates its patron saint Saint Mary of the Assumption. The anniversary coincides with the solemnity of the Assumption of Mary and Ferragosto, and for many years it has combined the religious dimension with popular and gastronomic traditions, transforming the small village in the lower Modenese area into a meeting point for residents and visitors from nearby towns.

A Ferragosto day in the piazza

The festival now has a consolidated format, built around several events that are repeated year after year. The morning of August 15th opens with the long breakfast, from the early hours until noon, featuring cotechino and beans served at the bar of the Polivalente Forum. Simultaneously, along Piazza Gramsci and the streets of the town center, the extraordinary Ferragosto market takes place, with stalls animating the village from the morning.

In the evening, from 8 PM, the Polivalente Forum becomes the heart of the festival with the watermelon feast: slices of fresh watermelon accompanied by gnocco fritto, cured meats, and drinks, in a summer festival atmosphere. There is also musical entertainment, with performances and animation that accompany the evening until late.

Faith and community

Alongside the convivial part, the religious significance of the day remains central. The Parish of Beata Vergine Assunta celebrates solemn masses dedicated to the patron saint, with the community gathered around the figure of Mary Assumed into heaven. The festival thus represents a moment of collective identity, where devotional and popular traditions are held together.

A participatory village festival

The event is promoted and supported by a wide network of local entities: from the Municipality of Bastiglia to the parish, from local volunteer associations to the groups that every year collaborate in the preparation of food and initiatives. This collective character makes the Feast of the Assumption one of the most representative events of the Bastiglia summer.

Bastiglia and its territory

Located in the plain north of Modena, between the Secchia and Panaro rivers, Bastiglia retains the atmosphere of the villages of the lower Emilia region, where patronal feasts still mark the community's calendar. Those who visit the town for August 15th will find an authentic festival, with strong local roots, far from large tourist events, and therefore capable of offering the genuine flavor of Emilian Ferragosto.