San Lucchese Festival (Patron Saint of Poggibonsi)

The Patronal Feast of Poggibonsi

The San Lucchese Festival is the most cherished event of the year for the town of Poggibonsi, in the province of Siena, in the heart of the Tuscan Valdelsa. Every April 28th, the city pays homage to its patron saint with a celebration that merges religious and popular traditions, involving the entire community in ancient rites, processions, market stalls, and fireworks.

Who was San Lucchese

Lucchese of Poggibonsi (born in Gaggiano between 1180 and 1182, died in Poggibonsi on April 28th, before 1251) is considered the first Franciscan tertiary. In his youth, he was a wealthy and powerful merchant and leader of a Guelph faction, before embracing a life of poverty and charity alongside his wife, Buonadonna. The remains of the couple rest today in the Basilica that the city erected in their honor at the end of the 13th century. Lucchese was beatified by Pope Innocent XII in 1697, and his cult was confirmed by Pope Gregory XVI in 1883.

The Eve: Bonfires and Procession

The celebrations begin on the evening of the eve, when the districts of Poggibonsi set up piles of wood along the Staggia stream, near the Church of San Giuseppe, which are lit around 9:00 PM. Simultaneously, the evocative procession begins: the Saint's body is transported on the historic Misericordia carriage through the city streets, accompanied by the 'La Ginestra' band. The pageant passes through Via Martiri di Belfiore, Via Redipuglia, Largo Campidoglio, Piazza Mazzini, and Via della Repubblica, before arriving at the Collegiate Church.

The Day of the Feast

On April 28th, the festivities center on the Basilica of San Lucchese, which comes alive with stalls and booths from local businesses and associations, following the tradition of the San Lucchese Fair attached to the feast. The day is marked by morning Holy Masses and the solemn Eucharistic concelebration, the central moment of local devotion. In the afternoon, the second Vespers are held with a blessing for the city and the entire Valdelsa region. The festival concludes in the evening with a grand fireworks display.

A Tradition of the Sienese Valdelsa

San Lucchese represents much more than a religious anniversary: it is a moment of collective identity for Poggibonsi and the Valdelsa region of Tuscany. The blessing of the city from above, with the patron saint's body and the relic of his wife Buonadonna, renews a centuries-old bond between the community and its history every year. The festival also offers the opportunity to visit the Basilica and the convent of San Lucchese, nestled in the green hills overlooking the town.