Saint Matthew Festival

The Saint Matthew Festival in Torremaggiore

In the heart of the Capitanata region, the town of Torremaggiore (Foggia province, Puglia) renews its devotion to Saint Matthew the Evangelist every year with a festival deeply rooted in the San Matteo district, home to the historic Church of the Holy Crosses. The celebration, traditionally held in mid-September and culminating on the liturgical feast day of September 21st, unites religious and popular dimensions, drawing residents from the neighborhood and the entire city.

A tradition dating back to the 19th century

The event's origins trace back to the second half of the 19th century. The famous Saint Matthew Fair was established by provincial decree on September 6, 1871. Originally held on the second-to-last Sunday of August near the small Church of the Holy Crosses—which was outside the city walls at the time—it served as a major livestock trading hub. It was primarily used for trading young pigs destined for the feast of Saint Anthony the Abbot on January 17th. Over time, the fair evolved into the religious and popular festival that the Friars Minor from the nearby Sacred Heart Convent continue to animate today.

A program of faith and community

The festival opens with a three-day preparation period (triduo), featuring the recitation of the Rosary and Holy Mass with preaching in the days leading up to the solemnity. The most anticipated moment is the procession of the statue of Saint Matthew onto the church square, accompanied by the evocative blessing of the animals and a sacred music concert that lights up the evening. On the liturgical day, Holy Masses are held throughout the day, and in the late afternoon, the solemn procession carrying the Saint's statue winds through the district's streets, including Via Marconi, Viale Aldo Moro, and Viale 2 Giugno, with a stop at the Holy Spirit Parish.

The 'mostocotto' festival and local flavors

Alongside the devotion, the festival offers the authentic taste of tradition: the star is the mostocotto festival, celebrating the typical grape syrup of the Apulian farming culture, along with local products and traditional street food from Torremaggiore. Folk music, firecracker displays, and, in some years, fireworks complete the atmosphere of an authentic village festival.

Why attend

• Experience an authentic patronal festival in the Daunian Sub-Apennines, far from mass tourism circuits.
• Witness the procession and the blessing of the animals, rituals that define the identity of the San Matteo district.
• Taste mostocotto and typical products of the Foggia gastronomy.