The patron saint of Paola is Saint Francis of Paola, whose canonical feast falls on 2 April, the day of the Saint's death; on 27 March, his birth is instead celebrated.
Solemn festivities in his honour are held every year from 1 to 4 May, with several processions on land and sea of the Saint's bust and cloak, in the Basilica di San Francesco da Paola. In 2008, precisely on 4 May, the celebrations for the 5th centenary of his death came to a close. The town also holds the Castello di Paola and the church of the Madonna di Montevergine.
