Patronal Feast of Saint Paschal Baylon

A patronal feast suspended between sea and mountains

The Patronal Feast of Saint Paschal Baylon is the defining event for the town of Furore, in the Province of Salerno, one of the smallest and most unique villages on the Amalfi Coast, in Campania. Here, there is no traditional town center gathered around a square: the houses cling to the mountainside, suspended between sky and sea, which is why Furore is known as "the town that doesn't exist." The patronal feast thus becomes the missing square, a moment when a community of a few hundred inhabitants, scattered across terraces, stairs, and alleys, finally comes together.

Two celebrations a year: May and August

In Furore, Saint Paschal Baylon is celebrated twice a year, according to a deep-rooted custom. The first occurrence falls on May 17th, the day of the Saint's death, and is the true liturgical solemnity, held entirely within the parish church. The second arrives in the height of summer, traditionally on the last Sunday of August: on this occasion, the festival leaves the church, moves outdoors, and takes on a more popular and civic character, open to the many visitors flocking to the Coast at that time.

The triduum and the blessing of the bread

The religious heart of the festival is the Church of San Giacomo Apostolo, which houses the polychrome statue of the patron saint: the Saint wears the brown Franciscan habit with a cord at his waist, carries a relic on his chest, and holds his hand open in a gesture of blessing, while the background depicts the Baby Jesus on a monstrance. Preparation for the solemnity consists of a solemn triduum in the three preceding days, with the recitation of the Holy Rosary followed by Holy Mass.

On the day of the feast, the rhythm is marked by several unmissable moments:

• the morning Holy Mass with the traditional blessing of the bread, a simple and ancient gesture that recalls sharing and charity;
• the recitation of the Rosary and the solemn Holy Mass in the evening;
• the procession on the churchyard, one of the most anticipated moments by the faithful and the entire citizenry.

The blessing of the bread is not just a folkloric detail: it is the most recognizable sign of devotion to Saint Paschal, and in Furore, it remains the gesture around which families, emigrants returning for the occasion, and visitors alike unite.

Who was Saint Paschal Baylon

Born in Aragon, Spain, on May 16, 1540, into a poor family, Paschal Baylon taught himself to read using prayer books while working as a shepherd. In 1564, he took the Franciscan habit at the convent of the Alcantarine Friars Minor in Orito, where he performed humble tasks throughout his life, particularly that of a doorkeeper. He died on May 17, 1592. His spirituality, entirely centered on the Eucharist, earned him the title "Seraph of the Eucharist." Canonized by Alexander VIII, he was proclaimed patron of Eucharistic Works and Congresses by Leo XIII in 1897. Popular tradition also venerates him as the protector of cooks and pastry chefs and, due to the assonance of his surname, invokes him as the saint for single women seeking a husband.

The summer festival and the "Facciamo Furore" program

For some years now, the summer celebration of the patron saint has been included in "Facciamo Furore", the festival promoted by the Municipality of Furore that accompanies residents and tourists from July to September with a calendar of events dedicated to music, tradition, and entertainment, held in some of the most evocative places in the village: Viale dell'Amore, Piazza Mola, Parco della Pellerina, and the famous Fjord. The Saint Paschal Festival represents one of the main musical events, featuring an evening concert in the square with free admission.

Furore, the village of the Fjord

Those who arrive for the festival discover a village that is worth the trip in itself. Furore has just over six hundred inhabitants and is part of the Amalfi Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1997. Its symbol is the Fjord of Furore, a deep gorge in the rock spanned by a bridge, one of the most photographed images on the entire coast. The village is also known for the murals that decorate its houses and for the heroic viticulture practiced on terraces overlooking the sea. Experiencing a patronal feast here means seeing up close how, in Campania, popular faith, landscape, and community identity remain one and the same today.