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HISTORY & CULTURE, TRAVEL · June 8, 2011

Summer Religious Festivals on the Amalfi Coast

June has arrived … and it’s summer on the Amalfi Coast! If you’re planning a trip to the Amalfi Coast this summer, here is a list of some of the best religious festivals from June to August. Even if you’re not Roman Catholic, timing your holiday on the Amalfi Coast to coincide with a religious festival offers you the chance to experience the excitement, the religious traditions and celebrations that take place each year in the small towns of the Amalfi Coast. Or, if you’re looking for a quiet escape, you’ll want to avoid these holidays as they attract large crowds, create parking nightmares and a lot of noise. (Think booming fireworks at 7am.) But, if you’re like me, you’ll love a good festa and the chance to experience something truly Italian!

Festival of Sant Antonio Amalfi
The Arrival of Sant' Antonio by boat in Amalfi

June

June 13th – Festival of Sant’Antonio, Amalfi

The beginning of the summer season of religious festivals on the Amalfi Coast starts with the Festival of Sant’Antonio (St. Anthony) in Amalfi. This festival has one of the most elaborate religious processions that I’ve seen on the Amalfi Coast. The procession of the statue of Sant’ Antonio (above) begins from the church near the Hotel Luna in Amalfi and follows the road through the tunnel to Atrani. The procession then makes its way through Atrani and down to the beach where the statue, religious procession AND the marching band are all loaded onto boats and continue for a boat procession from Atrani to Conca dei Marini to salute the church of Sant’ Antonio there before returning to Amalfi to continue the procession on land through Amalfi and back to the church. At night there is a large fireworks display over the harbor of Amalfi.

June 24th – Festival of San Giovanni Battista, Pontone in Scala

The hamlet of Pontone in Scala celebrates their patron saint San Giovanni Battista (St. John the Baptist) on June 24th. This is a wonderful chance to visit this pretty village set in the mountains between Amalfi and Scala. While the procession is small in scale compared to some of the other religious festivals in June, the pretty piazza at the center of the village is always decked out with lights and decorations.

June 27th – Festival of Sant’ Andrea, Amalfi

For me, the top religious festival of the summer is the Festival for Sant’ Andrea (St. Andrew), the patron saint and protector of Amalfi. The celebrations that take place on June 27th are in honor of a miracle that happened on June 27th, 1544 when Sant’ Andrea saved the town from an attack from pirates by stirring up a wild sea storm. (If you’re visiting the Amalfi Coast off season, plan to come for the winter festival for Sant’ Andrea on November 30th.) The religious procession is solemn and beautiful. A large silver bust statue of Sant’ Andrea is carried down the steps of the Duomo of Amalfi, on a procession through the streets of town and down to the Marina Grande beach where a blessing is said to the harbor and boats (that blow their horns to celebrate!). The finale is worth waiting for … when the statue of Sant’ Andrea is run up the grand staircase of the Duomo! The fireworks display after dark is one of the largest of the summer.

June 29th – Festival of San Pietro, Cetara

Just a few days after Sant’ Andrea in Amalfi, the Festival of San Pietro (St. Peter) takes place in Cetara. I experienced this big religious festival for the first time in 2010, and will be going back again each year. The procession of the statue of San Pietro standing on a boat decorated with flowers is carried through town on a long procession. With the strong fishing tradition in Cetara, I felt that this procession was still very deeply connected to the people of Cetara. When the procession reaches the beach, it is particularly beautiful against the lights of town and the medieval watchtower.

Festival of San Pietro in Cetara
The procession of San Pietro in Cetara

July

July 13th – Festival of Santa Trofimena, Minori

On July 13th, the town of Minori celebrates their patron saint Santa Trofimena during this summer festival. While I’ve experienced the winter celebrations for Santa Trofimena, I’ve not yet been to the summer celebrations. The church of Santa Trofimena in Minori is beautiful, and I’ve heard the procession is very moving. I hope to attend this summer!

July 22nd – Festival of Santa Maria Maddalena, Atrani

Right at the peak of lovely summer weather, the Festival of Santa Maria Maddalena (St. Mary Magdalene) in Atrani is a beautiful religious festival on the Amalfi Coast. The procession begins in the Collegiata dedicated to Santa Maria Maddalena, and continues through town and to the beach. After dark you’re in for a treat … a fireworks display from the sea that is fabulous from the beach!

July 27th – Festival of San Pantaleone, Ravello

At the end of July, the town of Ravello takes their turn at celebrating in honor of their patron San Pantaleone (St. Pantaleon). The Piazza Duomo is filled to the brim, and the religious procession follows the narrow streets through town. After dark, a fireworks display is set off on the mountainside below the Piazza Duomo. For a wonderful view, head over to Scala and watch the fireworks with a view overlooking Ravello.

Procession for Sant' Andrea in Amalfi
Procession for Sant' Andrea in Amalfi

August

August 1st – Sant’ Alfonso Maria de’ Liguori , Scala

The town of Scala is decorated with colorful lights by the first of August to celebrate Sant’ Alfonso de’ Liguori. Born near Naples in 1696, St. Alphonsus was very closely connected to the town of Scala, where he founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. While a religious celebration takes place on August 1st, the decorations are also part of Scala’s celebration for their patron saint on August 10th.

August 10th – Festival for San Lorenzo, Scala

The biggest festival of the year in Scala takes place on August 10th in honor of San Lorenzo (St. Lawrence). The celebrations include a religious procession through town and a fireworks display after dark. This is an excellent opportunity to visit the beautiful Church of San Lorenzo in Scala when it is lit up and decorated for the festivities.

August 15th – Ferragosto, Positano and Maiori

Ferragosto is a holiday throughout Italy in honor of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. You’ll find beach parties and events taking place in most on the towns of the Amalfi Coast on August 15th. The celebrations are more elaborate and fun in Positano and Maiori, where the most important churches in both towns are dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta, or the Assumption of the Virgin. Positano’s celebrations take place starting on August 14th, and are especially vivid as the history of the arrival of the town’s famous icon of the Black Madonna is recreated. The fireworks displays in Positano and Maiori on August 15th are wonderful from the sea, and there are boat tours from Amalfi that will take you to see both of them.

Festival of La Maddalena in Atrani
Festival of La Maddalena in Atrani

This is just a taste of some of the biggest summer religious festivals on the Amalfi Coast. There are many more! There are also many sagre (food festivals) and other summer festivals, but I’ll include those in another post. If you’ve experienced a summer religious festival that I’ve left out, please do leave a comment and I’ll add it to a list. Let the summer festivities begin!

Posted In: HISTORY & CULTURE, TRAVEL · Tagged: Amalfi, Amalfi Coast Events, Amalfi Coast Festivals, Amalfi Coast Travel, Atrani, Cetara, Conca dei Marini, Maiori, Minori, Pontone, Positano, Ravello, Summer on the Amalfi Coast

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Comments

  1. Welshcakes Limoncello says

    June 8, 2011 at 14:00

    Wow! What a lot to choose from!

    Reply
    • Laura says

      June 26, 2011 at 11:47

      Ciao Pat! And that’s just the religious festivals! There are so many sagre and other festivals that happen during the summer, too. Fun times! 🙂

      Reply
  2. Gaetano Di Lieto says

    June 9, 2011 at 14:11

    In this scene from Roberto Rossellini’s film “La macchina ammazzacattivi” (“The camera that kills bad people”), you can see Sant’Andrea’s procession.

    Here’s the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1dlTv797Lk

    Anyway what makes summer so special here on the Amalfi Coast are all these wonderful traditions. That’s one of the reasons I’m proud to live here.

    Reply
    • Laura says

      June 26, 2011 at 11:46

      Ciao Gaetano! Wow … that’s fabulous! Thank you so much for sharing. I loved seeing the procession in Amalfi from 1948! You should be very proud to be from Amalfi – it is an amazing town with such a fascinating history. Thank you for stopping by and for sharing!

      Reply
  3. LindyLouMac in Italy says

    June 9, 2011 at 15:03

    I will be looking forward to your posts on the individual events Laura, or as many as you manage to attend anyway.

    Reply
    • Laura says

      June 26, 2011 at 11:45

      Thanks, Linda! I have a bit of catching up to do, but they are coming soon. 🙂

      Reply
  4. Linda says

    June 10, 2011 at 06:54

    I had no idea there were so many religious festivals! It sounds like a wonderful summer.

    Reply
    • Laura says

      June 26, 2011 at 11:44

      Ciao Linda! Yes … I love it! There’s always a celebration going on somewhere to enjoy. 🙂

      Reply
  5. Greg Speck says

    June 25, 2011 at 16:41

    We arrived in Amalfi on June 13th in tme for the festival of Sant’ Antonio. How wonderful. Several years back, we were at the Pizza Sant’ Andrea and found the festival was that evening. We did not leave out table to later What a wonderful time. The fireworks compared to NYC on July 4th. We did not plan this, it just happened that way. Such sereiditidty.

    The Amalfi drive from Salerno was another highlight for me, but not my wife. Can not wait to return again.

    Reply
    • Laura says

      June 26, 2011 at 11:24

      Ciao Greg! Thank you for stopping by and for your lovely comment. I’m so happy that you had a chance to experience the Festival of Sant’Antonio in Amalfi. And you had the perfect seats for the procession in the Piazza Duomo. I love it when that happens! Yes … the fireworks are stunning! Now, you can just plan your next visit to Amalfi for the Festival of Sant’Andrea on June 27th. It’s even bigger … and the fireworks are amazing! Hope you’ll be back again soon! 🙂 PS … uploading photos and videos of this year’s Festival of Sant’Antonio at this very moment!

      Reply
  6. Antonio Vitolo says

    November 8, 2011 at 20:01

    I have had the honor to carry the saint in Atrani, Santa Maria Maddalena, my parents were born there, I also had the honor of being the President of the Santa Maria Maddalena Society which is in New Haven, Connecticut
    Our organizationn is now 113 years old

    Reply
  7. Edward Irons says

    April 1, 2012 at 12:57

    I just saw Rossellini’s film and was fascinated by the procession for St. Andrea. Glad to learn more of the background on this site. That part of the film is pure ethnography.

    Reply
    • Laura says

      April 3, 2012 at 18:40

      Hi Edward,
      Thanks for stopping by and for your comment! I’ve not seen the entire movie, but I would love to. Hope you’ll be in Amalfi one day to experience the festival for Sant’ Andrea!
      Warm wishes,
      Laura

      Reply
  8. Sharon says

    June 29, 2012 at 07:32

    We had an amazing holiday to Italy in 2007 ending our trip in Minori and were lucky enough to experience the Festival of Santa Trofimena. In fact we sat at table in a restaurant only a matter of feet away from the Saint herself and the ceremony. Wow. Fireworks were amazing. Can’t wait to return.

    Reply
    • Laura says

      July 7, 2012 at 10:50

      Thank you for stopping by and sharing your travel memories from the Amalfi Coast, Sharon! Sounds like a lovely and very memorable evening. I have caught a little bit of the Santa Trofimena festival in Minori. It’s coming up soon for this year!

      Reply
  9. amalficoastitaly.org says

    July 23, 2012 at 19:33

    Useful information. Lucky me I discovered your website unintentionally, and I am surprised why this accident did not took place earlier! I bookmarked it.

    Reply
    • Laura says

      August 11, 2012 at 08:30

      Thank you for visiting Ciao Amalfi!

      Reply

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My name is Laura and the Amalfi Coast is my passion and my home. I’m a writer and photographer who is endlessly inspired by the incredible beauty of the Amalfi Coast. Welcome to Ciao Amalfi!

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