Sant’Antonio da Padova
The feast of Sant'Antonio da Padova, celebrated on June 13th, is a deeply meaningful event in Bolsena as it is rooted in a combination of religious devotion and historical memory, interweaving faith and recollections of the Second World War.
Sant’Antonio da Padova is a highly venerated saint in Catholic tradition, known for his powers of intercession and for the numerous miracles attributed to him. On June 13th, 1944, the people of Bolsena spontaneously gathered at the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Giglio to honor her and give thanks, together with the Saint, for the end of the world war, the beginning of peace, and for saving the lives of the survivors.
The following year, on June 13th, 1945, the Sant’Antonio Festival Committee was founded, which still organizes the event today and celebrates the community’s bond with the Saint of Padua.
The feast includes a procession that winds through the town’s streets, during which the statue of the Saint, fragrant with an incredible number of lilies, is carried in procession—a flower that recalls the Madonna del Giglio.
Tradition also holds that in the evening, a spectacular fireworks display on the lakefront honors the day, attracting many visitors as well.
