Perdono Festival (Perdono di Ortona)
The patronal feast of Saint Thomas the Apostle, blending faith, history, and music
About Perdono di Ortona
The Perdono di Ortona: Faith and civic identity
The Perdono Festival, commonly known as the Perdono di Ortona, is the most significant religious and civil event in the municipality of Ortona, in the province of Chieti, nestled in the heart of the Costa dei Trabocchi in Abruzzo. Every year, between late April and early May, the city celebrates its patron saint, Saint Thomas the Apostle, whose relics arrived in Ortona from the Greek island of Chios in 1258 and are housed in the Basilica Concattedrale di San Tommaso Apostolo.
The origins: The 1479 Papal Bull of Sixtus IV
The festival's name refers to the plenary indulgence—the "pardon"—granted to pilgrims who visit the Apostle's tomb. It was Pope Sixtus IV who, with the Pastoris aeterni bull of July 5, 1479, moved the date of the indulgence from September 6 to the first Sunday of May, allowing pilgrims to reach the city more easily during the milder season. Since then, Ortona has embraced this event as a cornerstone of its identity.
The Pageant of the Silver Keys
The most spectacular moment is the Historical Pageant of the Silver Keys, a Renaissance-style re-enactment set at the end of the 16th century, when Margaret of Austria, daughter of Emperor Charles V, was the Lady of Ortona. A noblewoman chosen from the local youth carries the silver keys on a cushion to open the altar grate of the Apostle, following a tradition dating back to 1599, with the current form of the pageant established in 1977.
Religious rites and the Procession of the Gift
- Solemn Novena of Saint Thomas the Apostle in the Basilica
- Promulgation of the Plenary Indulgence and unveiling of the patron's Silver Bust
- Procession of the Gift and the Mass of the Gift, featuring offerings of typical Abruzzo produce
- Solemn procession with the Sacred Bust of the Apostle through the city center streets
- National Perdono Gathering, reaching its 48th edition in 2026
Music, shows, and fireworks
Beyond its devotional roots, the Perdono Festival has always been a major popular event: concerts in Piazza San Tommaso and other central squares featuring nationally renowned bands and artists, shows, tribute acts, and the traditional merchants' gathering in the Carmine district. The finale is marked by a stunning fireworks display over the Aragonese Castle, reflecting off the Adriatic Sea. An event that weaves the sacred and the profane, drawing pilgrims, visitors, and tourists from across Abruzzo to Ortona every year.
Perdono di Ortona — edition 2026
Perdono di Ortona 2026 - 48th Edition
The 2026 edition of the Perdono Festival took place in Ortona from April 23 to May 4, 2026, organized by the City of Ortona and the Basilica Concattedrale di San Tommaso Apostolo. Eleven days of religious, historical, and musical events celebrated the city's patron saint and the 48th National Perdono Gathering.
The festival opened with the "Waiting for Perdono" phase (April 23-26), marked by the solemn Novena and evening concerts, including a performance by the Solisti Aquilani, and an event for the 40th anniversary of the scientific recognition of the relics. On May 2, the Historical Pageant of the Silver Keys took center stage with the unveiling of the Silver Bust and the promulgation of the Plenary Indulgence; on May 3, the Procession of the Gift, the Mass of the Gift presided over by Monsignor Antonio D'Angelo and Monsignor Emidio Cipollone, and the procession with the Sacred Bust of the Apostle took place.
The grand finale on May 4 featured a concert by Enrico Ruggeri in Piazza San Tommaso and the traditional fireworks display over the Aragonese Castle, overlooking the Adriatic.
Programme Perdono di Ortona 2026
Waiting for Perdono (April 23-26)
- Solemn Novena of Saint Thomas the Apostle in the Basilica
- Evening concerts: "I Giovani Accademici" Orchestra and Solisti Aquilani
- Event for the 40th anniversary of the recognition of the relics
April 30
- Inaugural concert: Ortona City Band and Coro delle Ville in Piazza della Repubblica
- Opening of the "Perdoniamoci 2026" exhibition (ZooArt) at the Ferretti-Rapino Gardens)
May 1
- Youth music festival by the Youth Council and evening opening party
May 2
- Historical Pageant of the Silver Keys and unveiling of the Silver Bust of Saint Thomas
- Promulgation of the Plenary Indulgence
- "Magia90" concert and "Perdono Official Party" in Piazza del Teatro
May 3
- 48th National Perdono Gathering and Procession of the Gift
- Mass of the Gift and procession with the Sacred Bust of the Apostle
- "Queen on Fire" concert
May 4
- Concert by Enrico Ruggeri in Piazza San Tommaso
- Fireworks display at the Aragonese Castle
Highlights Perdono di Ortona 2026
Prices Perdono di Ortona 2026
Practical information — Perdono di Ortona
Getting there
Ortona is located on the Adriatic coast in the province of Chieti. By car: A14 motorway, Ortona exit. By train: Ortona railway station on the Bologna-Bari Adriatic line. Nearest airport: Abruzzo Airport in Pescara, approximately 30 km away.
Location
Celebrations are concentrated in the historic center of Ortona, particularly at the Basilica Concattedrale di San Tommaso Apostolo, Piazza San Tommaso, Piazza della Repubblica, and the Aragonese Castle for the fireworks.
Admission
Religious celebrations, pageants, and square concerts are free and open to the public.
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Where does it take place — Perdono di Ortona
Basilica Concattedrale di San Tommaso Apostolo