The thousand-year-old city of the Sassi is preparing to experience one of its most exciting moments: the Bruna Festival, in honor of the Madonna della Bruna, patron saint of Matera. An event which, every year, on 2 July, attracts thousands of faithful and tourists from everywhere, immersing them in an atmosphere rich in history, tradition and faith. Yesterday morning in the Open Space conference room of the Basilicata Apt in the Palazzo dell’Annunziata Matera the program of the event was presented.
The program
The organizers were the first to specify that compared to last year in which there were restrictions on fireworks, this year they will be carried out regularly in Murgia Timone in compliance with tradition and for the joy of all those who experience the celebration of the 2nd July from dawn until late at night.
The celebrations will begin with religious celebrations as early as Thursday 20 June and will culminate at midnight on 1 July with the countdown to the “Matera New Year”.
On July 2, the program will begin at 4 in the morning with the procession of the shepherds from the Cathedral Basilica to the Church of San Francesco d’Assisi. At 6.00 pm, the statue is moved onto the Triumphal Chariot, an imposing structure made of wood and papier-mâché, decorated with flowers and lights.
The cart, pulled by oxen and accompanied by thousands of faithful, travels through the streets of the city in a riot of colors and music
The most awaited moment of the celebrations will be at 10.30pm with the delivery of the Triumphal Chariot to the population of Matera for the ritual “strazzo” where the faithful compete for the fragments of the Chariot, considered objects of devotion and good omen, which will be followed by the fireworks show
The legend
The origins of the Bruna Festival are intertwined with the legend of the miraculous discovery of a statue of the Madonna, which occurred in 1290. From that day, the Virgin Bruna became the protector of the city, watching over it with love and benevolence. The festival, which has been repeated for over 700 years, represents a profound bond between the Matera community and its patroness, an opportunity to celebrate faith and pass on the values of devotion and solidarity.
