Sant'Amatore Festival

The patronal feast of Cellamare

In the heart of the Bari hinterland, just a few kilometers from the regional capital, the small town of Cellamare celebrates its patron saint every spring with the Sant'Amatore Festival. For over a week, between late April and early May, the village comes alive with religious, cultural, and entertainment events that weave together popular devotion and the promotion of local identity. It is the most heartfelt event of the year for the Cellamare community, drawing visitors from across the Metropolitan City of Bari.

The Historical Pageant and Castello Caracciolo

The heart of the event is the baroque-style historical pageant, a evocative re-enactment that starts from Castello Caracciolo, the ancient baronial residence that dominates the historic center. The pageant reconstructs the delivery of the Martyr Saint's relic to the Mother Church of Santa Maria Annunziata, which occurred around 1670 by the will of Domenico Giudice, Duke of Giovinazzo and Prince of Cellamare. Dozens of participants in period costumes—nobles, ladies, commoners, and courtiers—parade accompanied by drums, clarions, and flag-wavers. Each year, the role of the Duke is entrusted to a prominent guest, giving the re-enactment a strong popular appeal.

The Food Festival and Apulian Flavors

After the pageant, Piazza Aldo Moro transforms into the gastronomic heart of the festival with the Sant'Amatore Food Festival: local associations offer tastings of typical regional products in an atmosphere of sharing that unites generations. The evening continues with entertainment and live music, while during the festival days, the village also hosts a funfair and traditional artistic illuminations that decorate the historic center.

Faith, Culture, and Families

The program alternates moments of religious reflection—the solemn mass and the procession of the Saint through the streets of the town—with activities designed for children, such as the opening Fair in Piazza Risorgimento with games, group dances, bubble shows, balloon sculptures, and mascots. The Castello Caracciolo hosts the photographic and documentary exhibition «Once upon a time… Ancient crafts in Cellamare», dedicated to the village's old trades such as the shoemaker, the apothecary, and the midwife. The festivities conclude with a grand fireworks display.

A Village to Discover

Located in the Province of Bari, in Apulia, Cellamare preserves a historical heritage linked to the Del Giudice-Caracciolo princes and has maintained a twinning with Martos, Andalusia, since 2008. The Sant'Amatore Festival is the ideal opportunity to discover this authentic little town, far from mass tourism circuits but rich in tradition and hospitality.