Saint Gottard's Festival of Gambara

A festival dating back to 1469

On May 4th, the municipality of Gambara, in the Bassa Bresciana (province of Brescia), celebrates Saint Gottard, its co-patron. It is one of the oldest and most deeply rooted traditions in the area, documented since 1469: in 2015, the municipal administration recognized Saint Gottard's Day as a civic holiday, a day of rest for workers and schools.

The great picnic in the fields

The heart of the day is not solely religious. In addition to the services in the little church, the surrounding fields host a gigantic picnic that starts in the morning: tables are laden with eggs, local salami, bisolà, cakes, cheeses, and grilled meats. Countless tables and tents welcome families and groups of friends, in a true spring celebration in honor of the saint.

• Religious services in the little church of Saint Gottard
• Collective picnic in the surrounding fields from the morning
• Local specialties: eggs, salami, bisolà, cheeses, grilled meats

Identity and conviviality

Saint Gottard's Day is much more than a date on the calendar: it is a moment of strong identity for the community of Gambara, which gathers outdoors to share food and company. The festival accompanies the arrival of the good season and represents one of the most beloved events in the Bassa Bresciana, capable of attracting people from neighboring towns like Gottolengo.