Santissimo Crocifisso Festival

The Santissimo Crocifisso Festival in Polignano a Mare

In the heart of the Metropolitan City of Bari, the village of Polignano a Mare celebrates one of its oldest and most attended devotions every year: the Santissimo Crocifisso Festival. Perched on the cliffs of the Adriatic, the Apulian town comes to a standstill at the end of September to pay homage to the venerated wooden Crucifix, a sacred image guarded for centuries and deeply rooted in the community's identity.

A devotion born from the Masseria del Crocifisso

The tradition has its roots in the Masseria del Crocifisso, built in 1614 in the Polignano countryside among stretches of ancient olive trees. The small church attached to the farmhouse houses a 17th-century wooden crucifix, which is the origin of the cult. Even today, in the districts around Foggia Notarnicola, the festival retains the genuine character of a country fair, with mass celebrated outdoors and the blessing of the faithful.

Festival days in Piazza Vincenzo Capobianco

The hub of the city's festivities is Piazza Vincenzo Capobianco, which transforms into the center of community life for a few days. The program combines religious and popular dimensions: liturgical celebrations, the solemn procession with the statue of the Crucifix through the streets of the town, brass band concerts, and evening musical performances. Traditional illuminations light up the streets, while stalls and food stands offer typical Apulian products.

Faith, tradition, and entertainment

As is the tradition of festivals in Southern Italy, the most anticipated moment is the fireworks display, which closes the festivities by illuminating the sky over the sea and the countryside. It is an occasion that intertwines deep popular religiosity with conviviality, attracting not only the locals but also the many visitors present in Puglia at the end of the summer.

A late September appointment

The Santissimo Crocifisso Festival traditionally takes place on the third Sunday of September, when Polignano a Mare experiences one of its most intense moments of identity. The dates for the 2026 edition have not yet been officially announced by the Municipality and the organizers: it is advisable to check the Estate Polignanese calendar for updates.