The patron saint of Manfredonia is Saint Lawrence Maiorano, born in Constantinople around 440 and who died in Siponto on 7 February 545, the day he is still celebrated: called by the people of Siponto also «patron of the Strangers», he is patron of the town together with Saint Philip Neri and Our Lady of Siponto, as well as of the archdiocese of Manfredonia-Vieste-San Giovanni Rotondo. According to tradition, the Archangel Michael appeared to him, asking him to turn the cave on Mount Gargano into a «heavenly sanctuary»: this is how the famous sanctuary of Saint Michael the Archangel came to be.
The town's co-patron is Maria Santissima di Siponto, whose feast is celebrated on 30 and 31 August; since 1973 her icon has been kept in a side chapel of Manfredonia's cathedral, within the old minor basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore di Siponto, raised to that rank in 1977 by Cardinal Corrado Ursi on behalf of Pope Paul VI. It is estimated that the 31 August procession draws more than 20,000 faithful each year, while on 1 September the feast of Saint Andrew is celebrated, with a striking procession of boats at sea.
