Festa della Bruna 2025

Festa della Bruna 2025 will take place on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, in the beautiful city of Matera.

The event, officially known as Festa della Madonna della Bruna, is a religious feast held every year since 1389, in honor of the Madonna della Bruna, the patron saint of Matera.

The religious celebration is rooted in the city’s medieval traditions, making it a fascinating display of cultural heritage that has been passed down through generations.

Over the centuries, the festival has grown in scale and significance, becoming one of the most important religious events in Southern Italy.

Festa della Bruna 2025 will be the 636 edition of the festival.

WHAT IS THE DATE FOR FESTA DELLA BRUNA 2025?

Every year, on July 2, Festa della Madonna della Bruna transforms the city into a colorful and lively celebration of faith, tradition, and community.

Festa della Bruna 2025 will fall on a Wednesday.

WHAT IS THE LOCATION OF FESTA DELLA BRUNA 2025?

Festa della Bruna is one of the most vibrant and enduring religious festivals in Southern Italy, celebrated with great fervor in the ancient city of Matera.

Matera is a city of about 60,000 inhabitants located in the homonymous province, in the eastern part of the Italian region of Basilicata.

Matera is located about 60 kilometers south of Bari, 85 kilometers east of the capital city of the Basilicata region, Potenza, and about 245 kilometers east of Naples.

SHORT HISTORY OF FESTA DELLA BRUNA

Festa della Bruna 2025

The origins of the feast are lost in time. The custom, handed down from one generation to another, was enriched over time by countless variations.

According to legend, a farmer, in his way to Matera, took a young lady in his cart.

On the outskirts of the city, in the Piccianello district, she got off the cart and asked the peasant to tell the bishop of Matera that she was the Mother of Christ.

When he heard that, the bishop, along with the clergy and the townspeople, rushed to welcome the Madonna, but they found a statue in her place.

The statue of the Virgin was brought to the town on a decorated triumphal chariot. Today, the statue of the Madonna is located inside a reliquary in the city’s Cathedral.

Until the 16th century, the feast was characterized mainly by a procession that took place at dawn, called the Procession of the Shepherds (Processione dei Pastori).

During the procession, the local shepherds, early in the morning, wandered along the streets of the town in honor of the Madonna della Bruna.

In the 17th century, a wooden triumphal chariot was used for the translation of the statue during the procession, and knights dressed in Roman uniforms began to accompany the chariot.

At the end of the feast, the chariot was destroyed by the participants. The first evidence of the existence of a triumphal chariot dates back to 1690.

In the 18th century, by a Bourbon decree, the procession took place only in the morning.

In the next century, the decree was annulled, and the procession took place throughout the day, from morning to night.

In the 20th century, the tradition took the current shape, with impressive accessories and decorations, with fantastic illuminations and fireworks, for the pleasure of both locals and tourists alike.

FESTA DELLA MADONNA DELLA BRUNA TODAY

The feast begins in the early hours of July 2 with the Procession of the Shepherds.

At dawn, a lively and informal procession winds through the streets of Matera, accompanied by the sound of fireworks, church bells, and the bleating of sheep.

This procession is led by shepherds and farmers, who historically were among the first to venerate the Madonna.

The atmosphere is festive and somewhat chaotic, with participants lighting fireworks and shouting praises to the Madonna, signaling the start of the celebrations.

Following the Procession of the Shepherds, a solemn mass is held at the Cathedral of Matera, during which the statue of the Madonna della Bruna is venerated.

This statue, a beautiful and intricately crafted figure of the Virgin Mary, is the focal point of the entire festival.

Cathedral of Matera – Festa della Bruna 2025

The statue is placed on a grand triumphal cart (carro trionfale), which has been meticulously designed and decorated by local artisans.

The cart is traditionally made of papier-mâché and features elaborate decorations that often depict religious scenes and symbols.

The creation of the cart is a highly anticipated event in Matera, with months of preparation and craftsmanship culminating in this moment.

The highlight of the feast is the procession of the triumphal cart, which takes place in the afternoon.

The cart, carrying the statue of the Madonna, is paraded through the streets of Matera, accompanied by clergy, dignitaries, and thousands of devoted followers.

The procession is a deeply emotional event, with many participants walking barefoot as an act of penance and devotion.

The streets are lined with spectators, who throw flowers and shout prayers and blessings as the cart passes by.

The procession follows a specific route that winds through the city, passing by significant landmarks and historic neighborhoods.

One of the most poignant moments of the procession is the stop at the Church of Piccianello, where, according to legend, the Madonna first appeared.

As evening falls, the procession reaches its climax with the Rite of Destruction (Rito della Distruzione), which is one of the most unique and dramatic aspects of the festival.

In a symbolic act representing the triumph of good over evil, the triumphal cart, which has been paraded through the city with great reverence, is violently destroyed by the crowd.

The moment of destruction is highly anticipated and is met with a mixture of excitement and reverence.

The crowd, which followed the cart throughout the day, rushes forward to tear apart the cart, eager to take home a piece of it as a cherished souvenir and a symbol of the Madonna’s blessings.

Festa della Madonna della Bruna concludes with a spectacular fireworks display that lights up the night sky over Matera.

The fireworks are set off from various points in the city, including the ancient cave dwellings of the Sassi, creating a breathtaking visual spectacle that can be seen for miles around.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR FESTA DELLA BRUNA 2025

Festa della Bruna 2025 will be a day-long event filled with a series of rituals, processions, and spectacles that are both deeply symbolic and highly theatrical.

The feast will begin on July 2, at 5.00 am, with a Holy Mass held in Piazza San Francesco d’Assisi, in front of the Church of San Francesco d’Assisi, followed by the Procession of the Shepherds.

Later, the statue of the Madonna will be carried in procession from the Matera Cathedral to the parish of Piccianello. The knights, dressed in medieval costumes, will accompany the statue.

In the afternoon, the chariot with the statue of the Madonna della Bruna will return to the Cathedral, and the statue will be placed inside the church.

Once the religious part of the feast will be over, the pagan custom will begin. The chariot will be taken to Piazza Vittorio Veneto, where it will be destroyed by the crowd.

Festa della Bruna 2025 will end at night with a firework display which will illuminate the Gravina and the ancient Sassi of Matera.