The Italian Almanac for September 27: stories and curiosities

Vanished Italy 📅 1963

Craco, the ghost town with a film career

A landslide in 1963 set off the slow abandonment of Craco, a hilltop village of nearly two thousand people perched above the clay gullies of Basilicata, in Italy's deep south. By the early 1980s it stood empty. Then the film industry discovered its silent streets: Mel Gibson shot scenes of The Passion of the Christ here, and James Bond came through in Quantum of Solace. Today the old town can only be entered along a guided route made safe for visitors, while the empty houses keep working as one of cinema's favourite Italian sets.

📍 Discover Craco

Today's tidbits

It started here 1946

The first US saint came from a small Lombard town

Francesca Cabrini was born in 1850 in Sant'Angelo Lodigiano, in the Lombard plain south of Milan. She crossed the Atlantic to serve Italian emigrants and built an astonishing network: eighty institutions across seven countries, from schools and orphanages to hospitals in New York and Chicago. Having become a US citizen, she was canonized by Pius XII in 1946, the first American citizen ever declared a saint. In 1950 the same pope named her heavenly patroness of all emigrants: the protector of those who leave had once left too.

📍 Sant'Angelo Lodigiano →

Bell-tower rivalries

Brodetto: one fish stew, eight rival ports

Brodetto is the fish stew of Italy's Adriatic coast, and it changes recipe in every harbour: Chioggia, Ancona, Porto Recanati, Vasto, Ortona and Termoli each cook their own codified version. In Fano, in the Marche, the base calls for tomato paste and vinegar, Romagna-style; down the coast in San Benedetto del Tronto the tomato disappears, green at most, and peppers go into the pot instead. Same sea, same fishermen's dish, irreconcilable doctrines: asking which brodetto is the real one is still the fastest way to start an argument on the dock.

📍 Fano →

🎉 Celebrations today in… 8

8 towns with a guide celebrate their patron saint on September 27

Santi Cosma e Damiano 7

AlberobelloPuglia Tocco CaudioCampania RoccascalegnaAbruzzo AnelaSardinia San Cosmo AlbaneseCalabria Longone SabinoLazio SernioLombardy

Other saints of the day 1

Bassano in Teverinasanti Fidenzio e Terenzio · Lazio

Patron saint festival 📍 Pastena

Feast of Saint Helena and Saint Sinforo

📅 Every year, on 3 May and on the last Sunday of September

Pastena, a municipality of 1,528 inhabitants in the province of Frosinone, celebrates its patrons Saint Helena and Saint Sinforo on 3 May and on the last Sunday of September.

Patron saint festival 📍 Malvicino

Feast of Saint Michael

📅 Every year, on the last Sunday of September

On the last Sunday of September Malvicino celebrates Saint Michael in the ancient pieve dedicated to him.

Patron saint festival 📍 Vigasio

Feast of Saint Michael

📅 Every year, on the fourth Sunday of September

On the fourth Sunday of September Vigasio celebrates its patron Saint Michael; in mid-October the village also hosts the Polenta Festival, dedicated to its local staple dish.

Patron saint festival 📍 Monte Sant'Angelo

Feast of Saint Michael the Archangel

📅 Every year, from 27 to 30 September

From 27 to 30 September Monte Sant'Angelo celebrates its patron Saint Michael the Archangel at the famous sanctuary carved into the Gargano rock; in 1917 Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, deeply devoted to the Archangel, made a pilgrimage there.

Patron saint festival 📍 Montesegale

Feast of Saints Cosma and Damiano

📅 Every year, on the last Sunday of September

On the last Sunday of September Montesegale, a municipality of 307 inhabitants in the province of Pavia, celebrates its patron saints Cosma and Damiano.

Patron saint festival 📍 Anela

Feast of Saints Cosmas and Damian

📅 Every year, on 27 September

On 27 September Anela celebrates Saints Cosmas and Damian; the municipal territory also preserves the Sos Furrighesos necropolis.

Patron saint festival 📍 Roccascalegna

Feast of Saints Cosmas and Damian

📅 Every year, on 27 September

On 27 September Roccascalegna celebrates Saints Cosmas and Damian; the village is dominated by the renowned Roccascalegna Castle, perched on a rocky spur.

Patron saint festival 📍 San Cosmo Albanese

Feast of Saints Cosmas and Damian

📅 Every year, on 27 September

On 27 September San Cosmo Albanese celebrates Saints Cosmas and Damian with a great fair: thousands of pilgrims from across the region come to the sanctuary in traditional Arbëreshë costumes.

Patron saint festival 📍 Sernio

Feast of Saints Cosmas and Damian

📅 Every year, on 27 September

On 27 September Sernio, in the Valtellina valley, celebrates Saints Cosmas and Damian; the village has a parish church dedicated to them.

Patron saint festival 📍 Longone Sabino

Feast of Saints Cosmas and Damian

📅 Every year, on 27 September

On 27 September Longone Sabino celebrates the martyr saints Cosmas and Damian; the village also preserves the sanctuary of the Madonna dei Cignali.

Patron saint festival 📍 Bassano in Teverina

Feast of Saints Fidentius and Terentius

📅 Every year, on 27 September

On 27 September Bassano in Teverina celebrates Saints Fidentius and Terentius; the village has a church dedicated to them.

Patron saint festival 📍 Ossago Lodigiano

Feast of Saints Gervasio and Protasio

📅 Every year, on the fourth Sunday of September

On the fourth Sunday of September Ossago Lodigiano, a municipality of 1,412 inhabitants in the province of Lodi, celebrates its patron saints Gervasio and Protasio.

Patron saint festival 📍 Lecce nei Marsi

Feast of San Biagio

📅 Every year, on the last Sunday of September

On the last Sunday of September Lecce nei Marsi, a municipality of 1,735 inhabitants in the province of L'Aquila, celebrates the patronal feast in honour of San Biagio (Saint Blaise).

Patron saint festival 📍 San Godenzo

Feast of San Gaudenzio

📅 Every year, on the last Sunday of September

On the last Sunday of September San Godenzo, a municipality of 1,231 inhabitants in the province of Florence, celebrates its patron San Gaudenzio.

Patron saint festival 📍 Plataci

Feast of San Giovanni Battista

📅 Every year, on the last Sunday of September (first Sunday after the 23rd) and on 24 June

Plataci, an Arbëreshë municipality of 830 inhabitants in the province of Cosenza, celebrates its patron San Giovanni Battista (Saint John the Baptist) on 24 June and on the first Sunday after 23 September.

Patron saint festival 📍 Carpanzano

Feast of the Madonna delle Grazie

📅 Every year, on the fourth Sunday of September

On the fourth Sunday of September Carpanzano, a municipality of 300 inhabitants in the province of Cosenza, celebrates its patroness the Most Holy Madonna delle Grazie.

Patron saint festival 📍 Meduno

Feast of the Madonna di Meduno

📅 Every year, on the last Sunday of September

On the last Sunday of September Meduno, a municipality of 1,674 inhabitants in the province of Pordenone, celebrates its patroness the Madonna di Meduno.

Patron saint festival 📍 Vallelunga Pratameno

Our Lady of Loreto, patron of the Caltanissetta town

📅 Every year, on the fourth Sunday of September

Vallelunga Pratameno celebrates Our Lady of Loreto on the fourth Sunday of September.

Patron saint festival 📍 Ragalna

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, patron, with Saint Barbara as co-patron against Etna's eruptions

📅 Every year, on the last Sunday of September; Saint Barbara, co-patron, is celebrated on the last Sunday of July

Ragalna celebrates Our Lady of Mount Carmel on the last Sunday of September; the town's co-patron is Saint Barbara, celebrated on the last Sunday of July in memory of the eruptions of Etna from which the town was spared.

Patron saint festival 📍 Pianopoli

Our Lady of Sorrows, co-patron of Pianopoli

📅 Every year, on the fourth Sunday of September

Pianopoli celebrates co-patron Our Lady of Sorrows on the fourth Sunday of September, with her wooden statue carried in procession.

Patron saint festival 📍 Cercenasco

Saint Firmin of Amiens, patron of the land of the Lurduit spring

📅 Every year, on the fourth Sunday of September

Cercenasco celebrates Saint Firmin of Amiens on the fourth Sunday of September, in the chapel dedicated to him.

Patron saint festival 📍 Rocchetta di Vara

Saint Justine, patroness of a fief split between two Malaspina brothers

📅 Every year, on the last Sunday of September

Rocchetta di Vara celebrates Saint Justine on the last Sunday of September; her 16th-century church stands on the foundations of the old chapel of San Pantaleone, while the nearby castle of Suvero, built by the Malaspina in the 14th century, was split in 1500 between the brothers Tommaso and Giovanni.

Patron saint festival 📍 Biassono

Saint Martin, patron with the Fair in the Parco di Monza

📅 Every year, on the fourth Sunday of September, with the Saint Martin's Fair

Biassono celebrates Saint Martin on the fourth Sunday of September. The Saint Martin's Fair association promotes the town's agricultural and rural heritage.

Patron saint festival 📍 Bovisio-Masciago

Saint Pancras and Saint Martin, patrons of the two souls of Bovisio-Masciago

📅 Every year, on the last Sunday of September; Saint Martin patron of Masciago on the second Sunday of November

Bovisio-Masciago celebrates Saint Pancras, patron of Bovisio, on the last Sunday of September, with the Expo Brianza craft fair; Saint Martin of Tours, patron of Masciago, is celebrated instead on the second Sunday of November with a re-enactment parade held for 50 years.

Patron saint festival 📍 Catenanuova

Saint Prosper, the patron whose relics came from the Roman catacombs of San Callisto

📅 Every year, from the second-to-last to the last Sunday of September

Catenanuova celebrates Saint Prosper the martyr, together with Mary Most Holy of Grace, from the second-to-last to the last Sunday of September; the feast was established in 1752 by the town's founder, who brought the saint's relics from the catacombs of San Callisto in Rome.

Patron saint festival 📍 Cesano Maderno

Saint Stephen the Protomartyr, patron of the town of Palazzo Arese Borromeo

📅 Every year, on the fourth Sunday of September

Cesano Maderno celebrates Saint Stephen the Protomartyr on the fourth Sunday of September, in the parish church dedicated to him; the town also holds the 17th-century Palazzo Arese Borromeo, with Lombard school frescoes contemporary with its construction.

Patron saint festival 📍 Mozzanica

Saint Stephen, patron of Mozzanica

📅 Every year, on the fourth Sunday of September

Mozzanica celebrates Saint Stephen on the fourth Sunday of September, in the church dedicated to him.

Patron saint festival 📍 Borgaro Torinese

Saints Cosmas and Damian in the chapel of 1386

📅 Every year, on the last Sunday of September

On the last Sunday of September Borgaro Torinese celebrates Saints Cosmas and Damian in their chapel, the only one of the town's old chapels to survive to this day, documented since 1386.

Patron saint festival 📍 Villafranca Piemonte

The Guardian Angels, patrons of the land of the Castello di Marchierù

📅 Every year, on the Sunday preceding the last Tuesday of September

Villafranca Piemonte celebrates the Guardian Angels on the Sunday preceding the last Tuesday of September.

Patron saint festival 📍 Scarnafigi

The Holy Bodies, patrons of the land of the four martyrs

📅 Every year, on the last Sunday of September, honouring the Holy Bodies of the martyrs Castus, Clara, Honoratus and Verecundus

Scarnafigi celebrates the Corpi Santi, the martyrs Castus, Clara, Honoratus and Verecundus, on the last Sunday of September.

Patron saint festival 📍 Bompensiere

The Holy Crucifix, patron in the only church of a Lanza family village

📅 Every year, on the fourth Sunday of September

Bompensiere celebrates the Holy Crucifix on the fourth Sunday of September, in the only church historically present in the town; the village was founded on the Nadore fief, part of the Barony of Mussomeli since 1486, at the will of Don Giovanni Lanza.

Patron saint festival 📍 Sannicandro di Bari

The Most Holy Cross, patron alongside Saint Joseph

📅 Every year, on the last Sunday of September; Saint Joseph, the other patron, is celebrated on the last Sunday of June

Sannicandro di Bari celebrates the Most Holy Cross on the last Sunday of September; the other patron, Saint Joseph, is celebrated on the last Sunday of June.

Patron saint festival 📍 Trabia

The Most Holy Crucifix, patron of a town with the «Marunnuzzi» of Corpus Domini

📅 Every year, on the last Sunday of September

Trabia celebrates the Most Holy Crucifix on the last Sunday of September; every year the Corpus Domini procession also sets out from the church dedicated to him towards the folk «Marunnuzzi», small chapels built by the inhabitants of the various districts.

Patron saint festival 📍 Seriate

The Most Holy Redeemer, patron of the town of Bergamo's first railway

📅 Every year, on the last Sunday of September

Seriate celebrates the Most Holy Redeemer on the last Sunday of September, in the church dedicated to him; the inauguration of the town's railway station, on 20 May 1858, was greeted with great celebrations as a symbol of progress.