San Matteo Festival (Pilastri Fair)

The Patron Saint's Feast of Pilastri

The San Matteo Festival, which everyone knows as the Pilastri Fair, is the patronal feast of the hamlet of Pilastri, in the Municipality of Bondeno, in the Province of Ferrara. We are in the Bassa Ferrarese, a stone's throw from the border with Mantua, in a land of countryside, embankments, and farming traditions. Pilastri is the second most populated and extensive hamlet of Bondeno, preceded only by Scortichino, and its name seems linked to the existence of two large stone pillars that once marked the border between the territory of Ferrara and that of Mantua.

A Tradition Linked to Saint Matthew the Apostle

The festival revolves around the figure of Saint Matthew the Apostle, the patron saint of the village, celebrated liturgically on September 21st. The feast traditionally takes place on the days close to this anniversary and culminates in the solemn religious celebration in the parish church of San Matteo, a church whose origins date back to the 16th century: the first construction was started in 1580 by Count Agostino Mosti, from a noble family linked to the Este dynasty. The building was destroyed by a historic Po river flood in 1705 and was later rebuilt on the same site at the beginning of the 18th century. The Pilastri Fair has always represented a crossroads between the summer and autumn activities of the area.

Three Days of Celebration for the Entire Community

The beating heart of the event is the food stand set up at the Dancing Arena on via don Minzoni, open every evening starting from happy hour, with traditional dishes and unmissable barbecues. Alongside the food, the program offers live music and DJ sets, shows that mix circus, theater, and cabaret, craft workshops, and activities designed for children. On Sunday mornings, the village streets, and particularly via Farini, come alive with the traditional market.

Who Organizes the Fair

The feast is the result of the work of the PilastriAMO group, together with the Parish of Saint Matthew the Apostle, the ASD Polisportiva Pilastri, and local associations. It is a village festival in the truest sense: organized by volunteers, for the inhabitants of Pilastri and for those who come from the nearby towns of Bondeno and the Bassa Ferrarese, in a convivial atmosphere that is the hallmark of festivals in Emilia-Romagna.