Saint George's Day Festival (Kirchtag / Patronal Feast)

The patronal feast of Tires al Catinaccio

In the heart of the South Tyrolean Dolomites, at the foot of the Catinaccio (Rosengarten) massif, the small municipality of Tires al Catinaccio (Tires/Tiers) celebrates its patron saint, Saint George (heiliger Georg), every year. The feast falls on April 23rd, the liturgical date dedicated to the martyr, and is celebrated according to the typical South Tyrolean tradition of the Kirchtag, the feast of the saint to whom the parish is dedicated.

A church dedicated to Saint George

The heart of the festival is the parish church of Saint George, located in the village center along the street of the same name. The bell tower retains its lower section dating back to 1332, while the upper portion with its characteristic red-roofed onion dome was added in 1739. The building now features Baroque forms, the result of a renovation around 1767, with the interior redesigned in a Neo-Romanesque style in the second half of the 19th century. Inside, the statue of Saint George is flanked by that of Saint Florian.

The South Tyrolean Kirchtag

The patronal feast in South Tyrol combines religious observance with community life. The central moment is the Solemn Mass (Festmesse) celebrated in honor of the patron saint, accompanied by the local brass band (Musikkapelle), which, in its historical uniforms, is the protagonist of every traditional South Tyrolean festival. The religious occasion fosters a sense of belonging within a small community of about a thousand inhabitants, spanning the hamlets of San Cipriano (St. Zyprian) and Bria.

Tires al Catinaccio, a village in the Dolomites

Located in the Trentino-Alto Adige region, in the province of Bolzano, Tires al Catinaccio is a popular destination for hikes toward the Sciliar and Catinaccio massifs, both UNESCO World Heritage sites. The Saint George's Day Festival represents one of the moments of the year when local tradition, faith, and folk music merge, offering residents and visitors an authentic glimpse into the culture of this corner of South Tyrol.

A spring appointment

Falling at the end of April, the festival symbolically marks the beginning of the pleasant season in the valley, when the first spring concerts by the brass bands bring the villages to life. It is the ideal opportunity to discover a genuine event, far from the major tourist flows, and to experience the most intimate and communal dimension of Dolomite traditions.