On the 29th January, Perugia celebrates its Patron Saint, San Costanzo, with a day packed with spiritual and traditional events as well as food and wine.

Umbria's main town remembers the Saint, with the "Luminaria grande" torch-lit procession, first called for by the Council of Priors in 1310.

Every year, on the night before the Saint's day, this tradition is repeated with a historical re-enactment that takes the acropolis back in time.

On Saturday 28th January the town's civil and religious leaders will take part in the procession through the historic centre bearing four gifts in homage to the saint: a laurel wreath, a candle, torcolo (a traditional cake) and incense.

On Sunday 29th the celebrations continue in Borgo XX Giugno with a fair selling local foods and handicrafts, whilst in Corso Vannucci pieces of "Torcolo di San Costanzo", a ring-shaped cake made with pine nuts, raisins and other dried fruit that is traditionally eaten on this feast day, will be handed out to passers-by.

 

Trivia

"San Costanzo dall'òcchjo adorno, famme l'occhjolino sennò n'c'artorno"

According to tradition, on the day of San Costanzo, young unmarried women who are curious to know whether they will soon marry, can go to the church dedicated to the Patron saint and see the game of light reflected on his image: legend states that if the Saint winks, their wedding will be celebrated within the year.

For more information:

http://turismo.comune.perugia.it/