Patronal Solemnity of Saint Gaudentius

The Solemnity of Saint Gaudentius in Esmate

The Patronal Solemnity of Saint Gaudentius is the feast of the patron saint of Esmate, a hamlet in the municipality of Solto Collina in the Province of Bergamo, on the hills of the Upper Lake Iseo. Dedicated to Saint Gaudentius (327-418), a bishop venerated by the community, the feast is celebrated every year on the first Sunday of August, with three days of religious and popular events organized by the parish.

Flavors of Tradition

Cuisine is one of the souls of the feast, with a menu that draws from Bergamascan tradition: capù (cabbage rolls typical of the Bergamo area), taragna polenta with sausage, and wild boar stew mark the evenings of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The refectory tables become a meeting place for the community of Esmate and for the many holidaymakers by the lake.

Music, Tombola, and the "Priest's Package"

The evenings are enlivened by live music, tombola games, and the fun "Priest's Package" event, a surprise that brings smiles and keeps anticipation high. It is the most convivial and ironic face of a feast that knows how to combine solemnity and joy.

The Procession

The most solemn moment arrives on Sunday, with the Mass led by the local choir and the procession that carries the statue of Saint Gaudentius through the streets of Esmate. It is the religious and identity heart of the feast, in which the community renews its bond with its patron saint. Experiencing the Solemnity of Saint Gaudentius means discovering the authenticity of a small village in Lombardy overlooking Lake Iseo.