Saint Irene Patronal Feast

Saint Irene, patron saint of Altamura

The Saint Irene Patronal Feast is the most deeply felt identity-defining event in Altamura, a city in the Province of Bari located in the heart of the Apulian Alta Murgia. Saint Irene has been venerated as the patron saint of the city and the entire Diocese of Altamura-Gravina-Acquaviva delle Fonti for about three centuries: her protection was invoked in 1728, when a series of violent lightning strikes hitting the town prompted the community to choose the Saint whose name, of Greek origin, means "peace".

The day of the feast

May 5th is a true public holiday for Altamura, with schools and public offices closed. The central moment is the solemn Eucharistic celebration in the Cathedral, the splendid Frederickian church of Santa Maria Assunta, presided over by the diocesan bishop. Following this, the procession carries the wooden statue of the Saint in triumph through the streets of the historic center, accompanied by a band and a crowd of the faithful. The parade winds through Piazza Duomo, Corso Federico II di Svevia, Piazza Unità d'Italia, Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, Corso Umberto I, Piazza della Resistenza, Via XX Settembre, Piazza Zanardelli, Via dei Mille, and Via Vittorio Veneto, before returning to the Cathedral.

Music and tradition

An anthem composed by Saverio Mercadante, the famous composer born in Altamura, is dedicated to the Saint, a sign of the deep bond between the recurrence and the city's musical history. The civil celebrations include the lighting of illuminations in Piazza Duomo and concerts that enliven the town squares, in an atmosphere of popular participation that combines religious devotion and folkloric tradition.

The Pane di Altamura bread festival

In recent years, the patronal feast has intertwined with the "U Puàn nest" event dedicated to the famous Pane di Altamura DOP, which during these days transforms the historic center into a large open-air workshop featuring tastings, educational workshops for children, urban installations, and street performances. It is an opportunity to discover one of the symbolic products of Apulian gastronomy alongside the cultural heritage and museums of the Murgia city.

An authentic Apulian experience

Experiencing Saint Irene in Altamura means immersing yourself in the truest soul of inland Puglia: popular faith, hospitality, traditional flavors, and the beauty of a medieval historic center dominated by the Cathedral commissioned by Frederick II. A festival that every May 5th brings the entire community and many visitors together around their patron saint.