San Donato Patronal Feast

The most important celebration in Carlantino

In the calendar of Carlantino, a small town in the province of Foggia perched in the northern Daunian Mountains with a panoramic view of Lake Occhito and the Fortore Valley, August is the month of life. At the center of it all is the San Donato Patronal Feast, the most cherished event of the year, which brings together the entire local community and the many emigrants who return to the village specifically for the occasion.

Who was San Donato?

The community celebrates San Donato, Bishop of Arezzo, who, according to tradition, was martyred by beheading on August 7, 362 AD, under the Roman Emperor Julian the Apostate. Considered a protector against epilepsy, San Donato is often depicted with the moon alongside the Gospel and episcopal vestments, recurring elements in his iconography. Alongside him, the local devotion also honors San Rocco, the town's co-patron.

The wooden bust and the procession

The religious heart of the festival is the procession of the 17th-century polychrome wooden bust depicting a blessing San Donato, kept in a chapel attached to the church. The statue is carried through the village streets on a litter featuring an original, finely carved and gilded wooden sunburst frame. The statues are carried on the shoulders of young volunteers while the faithful sing the traditional folk chant 'Salve Donato' and recite prayers in an atmosphere of intense devotion.

Three days of celebration: August 6, 7, and 8

The patronal feast takes place every year over three days, on August 6, 7, and 8, culminating on the Saint's day, August 7. During the celebrations, the town comes alive with:

• Illuminations lighting up Corso Europa and the historic center;
• Market stalls selling various goods and local sweets;
• Musical and singing performances in the main square;
• Traditional brass band concerts and fireworks to close the festivities.

Part of the Carlantino Summer

The San Donato Feast is the highlight of the Carlantino Summer, a program of events organized annually by the Pro Loco, the Municipality of Carlantino, and the Parish, blending religious, sporting, cultural, and gastronomic appointments. August also features the Emigrant's Festival and the Farmers' Festival, testifying to the deep bond between the village, its people, and the land of the Fortore Valley.