Procession of Maria Santissima Assunta

A ritual that returns every three years

The Procession of Maria Santissima Assunta is among the most deeply rooted devotional events in Molfetta, a city in the Metropolitan City of Bari, in Apulia. Unlike many annual patronal festivals, this procession is celebrated on a triennial basis: a long wait that makes every edition an extraordinary event for the entire Molfetta community. The most recent celebrations took place in August 2022 and August 2025, on a Sunday close to the liturgical feast of the Assumption on August 15th.

The statue by Francesco Verzella

The heart of the procession is the exquisite wooden statue of the Assumption, carved in 1809 by the Neapolitan sculptor Francesco Verzella. The artwork, kept in the Church of San Gennaro, is carried on the shoulders of the confreres along the streets of the historic center, festively decorated with lights and drapes on the balconies. The sacred image, enveloped in popular devotion, represents one of the city's artistic and spiritual treasures.

History of the devotion

The procession was established in 1815 on the initiative of the newly formed Confraternity of Maria Santissima Assunta in Cielo. In 1880, the celebration was linked to the liturgical date of August 15th, while in 1984, the then-bishop of Molfetta, Don Tonino Bello (Antonio Bello), decided to reduce it to a triennial rite, to be celebrated on a weekend close to the Feast of the Assumption. Since then, the three-year rhythm has marked the return of the statue to the city streets.

The procession and popular participation

The procession crosses the main arteries and alleys of the old town, including Piazza Paradiso, Corso Dante, Piazza Municipio, and the streets of the historic village. Taking part in the procession are the Confraternity of Maria Santissima Assunta in Cielo, the Women's Pious Union, the Confraternity of the Madonna del Buon Consiglio, and the twin confreres from Modugno. The notes of the city bands, the Bassa Musica Città di Molfetta at the opening, and the Santa Cecilia – Città di Molfetta band complex at the closing, accompany the passage of the statue among the crowd of the faithful.

An identity-defining event

For Molfetta, a seaside city with a deep religious vocation that also boasts the famous Holy Week and the Feast of the Madonna dei Martiri, the Assunta Procession is much more than a ritual: it is a moment of collective recognition, bringing together families, returning emigrants, and the entire community around a tradition handed down for over two centuries.