On the day of Tutti Santi, we want to suggest places where the value of Patron Saints is particularly felt, as well as the importance of celebrating them on their day: Italy is indeed full of celebrations dedicated to the Saints, some of which are particularly intense, eagerly anticipated, and carefully prepared throughout the year, participated in and lived with enthusiasm and devotion.
Joining these festivals is a wonderful opportunity to feel part of the spirit of the place and a collective celebration, a ritual full of energy and emotion: even those who are not religious can certainly sense the powerful energy, overflowing enthusiasm, and devotion that manifests in processions, songs, and colorful rites, often inspired by ancient traditions and ceremonies.
Here are some places where the Saints are celebrated with particular ardor!
In Florence, San Giovanni is celebrated with particular enthusiasm: the final of the Calcio Storico fiorentino is played, where four teams representing the city's four historical districts (Azzurri for Santa Croce, Rossi for Santa Maria Novella, Bianchi for Santo Spirito, and Verdi for San Giovanni) compete against each other, and the day is filled with celebrations, processions, and solemn ceremonies. By the end of the day, it is tradition to find the best spot to watch the fuochi di San Giovanni, which light up the sky above the Renaissance city.
Enjoy the city - you can continue along the Cammino di San Jacopo, which we will discuss later in this article, or head towards Umbria along the Cammino di San Francesco: the first leg leads from Florence to the Sanctuary of Chiusi della Verna, immersed in the magic of the Casentino forests.
The celebration of Santa Rosa, which begins with preparation novene on August 22 and culminates on September 3 with the main event, is particularly spectacular due to the grandeur of the Macchina di Santa Rosa, a towering illuminated structure about 30 meters high and weighing over 5 tons, carried on the shoulders of a hundred men known as the “Facchini di Santa Rosa.” The procession travels through the historic center for about a kilometer starting from the Cattedrale, culminating in the Basilica. The event commemorates the transfer of Santa Rosa's body to the Sanctuary dedicated to her. This event is particularly intense and spectacular, attracting thousands of spectators drawn by the spectacle of the machine.
Few know that Italy also has a route that is part of the Cammini di Santiago: it is the Cammino di San Jacopo, named for the city of Pistoia, which holds a relic of the Saint thanks to Bishop Atto, who obtained a fragment of the Saint's bone and brought it to Pistoia in 1145.
San Giacomo (or Jacopo) is celebrated on July 25 through ancient celebrations that have continued since the Middle Ages; the main event is the Giostra dell’Orso, a medieval horse race involving the city’s historical neighborhoods.
The Cammino di San Jacopo leads from Florence to Lucca, passing through Pistoia, Pescia, Collodi, and Prato: it is a beautiful journey through some of the most significant cities in Tuscany, effectively a segment of the Camino de Santiago.
The Madonna Nera di Oropa is housed in the Sanctuary of Oropa, one of the main and largest sites of Marian worship in Europe and the destination of the Cammino di Oropa, which traverses some of the most beautiful landscapes of Biella before arriving at the Sanctuary.
Brought to Oropa by Saint Eusebius, Bishop of Vercelli in the 4th century, the Madonna has dark skin - a feature that has various interpretations, from symbolism of connection with earth and nature to a technique applied to the wood to preserve its quality - and is celebrated daily as a protector from natural and personal calamities, with the Sanctuary rich in ex votos left by faithful in gratitude for miracles received.
It is particularly celebrated during the Assumption festival on August 15: it is tradition for many faithful to make a pilgrimage to Oropa to participate in the solemn mass and other ceremonies held to commemorate the event.
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