San Cesario de Le Tridici Focare (Patronage Feast)

A Reborn Tradition in Salento

In the heart of Salento, the town of San Cesario di Lecce (Province of Lecce, Apulia) renews one of its most heartfelt devotions every February 20th: the Patronage Feast of Saint Caesarius, popularly known as "San Cesario de Le Tridici Focare". The event, which had been interrupted for seventeen years, was brought back to life in 2024 and has quickly established itself as a defining local tradition, blending spiritual depth, collective ritual, and folk heritage.

The Thirteen Fòcare and Their Meaning

The heart of the festival is the lighting of thirteen fòcare (bonfires) in Piazza Garibaldi. The number is no coincidence: the thirteen flames evoke the thirteen months of harsh and dark imprisonment that Saint Caesarius had to face for refusing to renounce his faith before suffering martyrdom. As evening falls, the town gathers around the fires that illuminate the square in an atmosphere of community and ancient memory.

The Patronage and the 1743 Earthquake

The February 20th recurrence is linked to an episode that local tradition considers miraculous. During the devastating earthquake of February 20, 1743, which struck Salento, the inland territories—including Lecce and San Cesario—remained unharmed. The population attributed this protection to their patron saint, who has been invoked ever since as the guardian of the community. This is the origin of the Patronage Feast, which is distinct from the main patronal festival.

A Program of Faith and Community

The day opens with religious celebrations and culminates in the late afternoon with a solemn Eucharistic concelebration, followed by a procession that winds through the streets of the historic center to Piazza Garibaldi. There, the evocative re-enactment of the lighting of the thirteen bonfires takes place. The evening continues with the tasting of typical homemade products offered by the L'ausapieti association, accompanied by musical and cultural entertainment.

Organizers

The event is promoted by the Municipal Administration of San Cesario di Lecce together with the Patronal Feast Committee, in collaboration with the local parish, the Comprehensive Institute, and local associations. The goal is to promote an authentic folk tradition while making it a cultural attraction for Salento.

Why Attend

• Witness the lighting of the thirteen fòcare in Piazza Garibaldi, a unique spectacle of its kind.
• Experience the procession and devotional rites in the historic center of San Cesario di Lecce.
• Discover a chapter of Salento history linked to the 1743 earthquake.
• Taste the typical products of the local homemade tradition.