Patronal Feast of Saint Roch
The triumphal float pulled by seven horses and the grand procession on August 20th
About Saint Roch
The feast that stops the village
Among the patronal feasts of Basilicata, that of Saint Roch in Montescaglioso holds a special place. For days, the village overlooking the Murgia Materana Park gathers around its protector in a crescendo of religious rites, age-old traditions, and popular spectacle, capable of attracting thousands of people, including residents, returning emigrants, and visitors.
The triumphal float and the auction on July 31st
The most characteristic element is the triumphal float, pulled by seven horses and welcomed in Piazza Roma to the notes of the triumphal march from Aida. The right to guide the float and carry the banner that opens the procession is awarded through a traditional auction, which takes place on July 31st: a ritual that blends devotion, prestige, and community identity.
August 20th, the patron saint's day
The heart of the feast is August 20th. The day begins at dawn with the morning reveille, continues with the laying of the laurel wreath in homage to the fallen, and culminates in the grand procession of the simulacrum of Saint Roch along the main streets of the town, amidst festive greetings from the balconies and the return to the Mother Church. The evenings are marked by band concerts by renowned ensembles and spectacular illuminations that light up the village.
Montescaglioso, between the abbey and the Murgia
Organized by the Patronal Feast Committee with the support of the Municipality and the Province of Matera, the feast of Saint Roch is an opportunity to discover Montescaglioso, its Abbey of Saint Michael the Archangel, and the landscape of the Murgia, a few kilometers from Matera.
Saint Roch — edition 2026
In 2026, Montescaglioso will again celebrate its patron saint Saint Roch, with the main day traditionally set for August 20th. The machinery of the feast begins to move in the preceding weeks with the auction of the triumphal float, while the key days animate the village with the grand procession, band concerts, and illuminations. In May 2026, the preparatory conference "Waiting for Saint Roch" was held in the Chapter Hall of the Abbey, a sign of the attention with which the community prepares its most important feast. The detailed program will be announced by the Patronal Feast Committee in the weeks prior.
Programme Saint Roch 2026
The detailed 2026 program will be announced by the Patronal Feast Committee in the weeks prior. Based on the traditional structure of the feast, the main events are:
- End of July: auction for pulling the triumphal float and for the handover of the banner
- Days before August 20th: religious rites, lighting of the illuminations, and evening band concerts
- August 20th, patron saint's day: morning reveille at dawn; laying of the laurel wreath in Piazza del Popolo; grand procession of the simulacrum of Saint Roch through the town's streets with the triumphal float pulled by seven horses, welcomed in Piazza Roma to the notes of Aida; grand evening band concert
- Following days: continuation of the celebrations and octave
Highlights Saint Roch 2026
Prices Saint Roch 2026
Practical information — Saint Roch
How to get there: Montescaglioso is about 20 km from Matera, reachable via the SS175.
Admission: religious rites, procession, band concerts, and illuminations are free and open to all.
Accommodation: wide range of accommodation in Matera and surrounding areas; booking recommended for mid-August.
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Where does it take place — Saint Roch
Chiesa Madre e centro storico