Perdonanza Celestiniana

The Perdonanza Celestiniana, the first Jubilee in history

The Perdonanza Celestiniana is the most significant and deeply felt historical-religious event in L'Aquila, the capital of Abruzzo. It was established by Pope Celestine V with the Bulla of Forgiveness ("Inter sanctorum solemnia") on September 29, 1294, just days after his coronation at the Basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio. With this document, the hermit pope granted plenary indulgence to anyone who, repentant and confessed, crossed the threshold of the basilica between the vespers of August 28 and the vespers of August 29: a revolutionary gesture of mercy, considered the first Jubilee in history, and a precursor to the universal one proclaimed by Boniface VIII in 1300.

The ritual of the Holy Door at Collemaggio

The religious heart of the festival takes place in the evocative Basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio, a Romanesque-Gothic jewel with its famous white and pink checkered facade. On the afternoon of August 28, the solemn Bulla Procession winds through the historic center: over a thousand participants in 15th-century costumes accompany the Lady of the Bulla, who carries the papal document, and the Young Lord with the olive branch, a symbol of peace. Upon reaching Collemaggio, the procession witnesses the opening of the Holy Door, which remains open until the evening of August 29, when it is closed to conclude the period of indulgence.

A week of culture, music, and performance

Surrounding the religious rite, the city of L'Aquila builds a rich secular program each year that brings squares, staircases, and the Teatro del Perdono, set up in front of the basilica, to life. Concerts by major Italian artists, international dance galas, theatrical performances, exhibitions, and initiatives by local associations transform the last week of August into a grand popular event. The festival traditionally opens on August 23 with the lighting of the Tripod of Peace in Piazza Palazzo and continues until August 30 with the closing concert.

World Heritage

Recognized as a "Heritage of Italy for Tradition" in 2011, the Perdonanza Celestiniana was inscribed in 2019 on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, a testament to its identity and universal value. The event is organized by the Municipality of L'Aquila in collaboration with the Perdonanza Celestiniana Committee and the Archdiocese of L'Aquila.

A symbol of rebirth

Following the 2009 earthquake, the Perdonanza has taken on an even deeper meaning of rebirth for the community of L'Aquila. In 2026, the year in which L'Aquila is the Italian Capital of Culture, the event gains even greater resonance, confirming itself as one of the most defining appointments for the entire Abruzzo region and a bridge between faith, history, and contemporary culture.