Vieste, feast of Santa Maria 1951 – author unknown
On the Gargano, as in all of southern Italy, the religious tradition connected to the saints is still very strong. Here the processions, the stalls, the village band, the fireworks displays are felt and awaited every year by the entire population.
Starting from Vieste, the pearl of the Gargano, the two dates that you must note are April 23rd and May 9th, respectively San Giorgio and Santa Maria di Merino.
La St George's Day, which is celebrated every year on April 23, is characterized by the famous horse race, a horse race that traditionally takes place on the Lungomare Europa (San Lorenzo beach). Don't miss the omelette sandwich offered by the hotel institute to the entire population during the village festival. Then the concert and the shows in Piazza del Fosso (Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II), the band and the fireworks over the sea, will make you live an experience that you will take home with joy.
The feast of Santa Maria di Merino is the most heartfelt popular feast by the people of Vieste. Every May 9, the entire population, the elderly, women and children, participate in the fascinating procession. It starts from the city center to arrive, 8 km away, at the locality Santa Maria where the church of the same name is a place of worship and home of the Madonna di Merino. The procession route runs along and crosses some of the most beautiful beaches of Vieste. From the Lungomare Europa you pass to that of Sfinale and Spiaggia Lunga. On May 9 we are very close to the summer season, therefore an opportunity for some to take their first swim in the sea. Evocative and unique and the return of the procession, we retrace the outward journey in the evening holding a candle in celebration of the saint, in this case the Madonna di Merino. 7/8 thousand people distributed in two parallel rows with the statue of the Madonna di Merino in the centre, the representatives of the clergy and institutions, who together sing songs of devotion to the patron saint, giving life to a unique mystical show on the Gargano and in Puglia. If the religious festival is held on May 9, the civil one extends for three days, in fact from May 7 to 10 do not miss the opportunity to visit the pearl of the Gargano in the company of the entire population to discover traditions but also just to a swim, a boat ride to discover the beauties of Vieste.
If we talk about religion, however, the first thing that comes to mind when we talk about Gargano is San Giovanni Rotondo. St. Pio, whom everyone here still calls Padre Pio, was such a powerful figure that he forged the memory of all who knew him or only heard about him. In addition to the miracles, the stigmata, the life of a saint that we think you already know, Padre Pio was a lay and concrete protagonist. The construction work of the famous hospital tells how a man of God knew very well how medicine and technology could help many more sick people than prayers. It is to him that we owe the construction of this hospital, one of the most avant-garde in the boot. We don't really like how the visibility due to the Franciscan friar of the city of San Giovanni Rotondo was managed. If you visit it you will find everything except the mystical air you are looking for. Padre Pio's relics, like his entire existence, have been transformed into merchandise, souvenirs and beds in a huge merchandising operation that we sincerely don't like. The famous church built by Renzo Piano then lacks sacredness. You will feel like you are in an anonymous reception hall of a hotel. We are sorry for this, but if we have to tell you about the territory we must, to be honest, be honest.
For the reasons listed above, many times we prefer to advise those who ask us to visit places of worship Monte Sant'Angelo. From here, over a thousand years ago in fact, the cult of San Michele Arcangelo was born, which he carries with him a story made up of Bishops, Templars, Popes and legends in perfect medieval style. Monte Sant'Angelo has recently become a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Sanctuary of San Michele, the cave
Visiting it you will feel a particular classic energy of places full of history and mysticism such as Assisi for example. The cave of San Michele Arcangelo with the dedicated Basilica above it and the famous bell tower, Frederick's Castle, the Abbey and the hermitages of Pulsano, the ancient village, are all obligatory stops that you will have to visit. Then beyond the history and cult of San Michele Arcangelo, Monte Sant'Antangelo is also famous for its gastronomy, in the historic center you will find excellent restaurants that will make you eat the best of Gargano products at fair and honest prices.
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