The Feast of Celestinian Forgiveness – L’Aquila

August 23rd to 30th 2021 – 727th edition of the religious Feast of Forgiveness

From August 23rd to 30th 2021, the city of L’Aquila celebrates the Feast of Celestinian Forgiveness (Perdonanza Celestiniana), a historical and religious feast reaching this year its 727th edition.

The feast draws back to the bull issued by Pope Celestine V in 1294 granting a plenary indulgence to all pilgrims visiting Santa Maria di Collemaggio Church on August 28th and 29th.
The Feast of Celestinian Forgiveness is considered to be a forerunner of the Jubilee.

The celebration of Forgiveness is preceded by the two weeks of the “Path of forgiveness” which crosses 23 villages along an 80 km itinerary and ends on August 23 in L’Aquila, where the feast begins with a series of cultural events and re-enactments until 28 August, the day in which the “Corteo della Bolla” takes place in costume, from the historic center (Palazzo Margherita) to the Basilica of Collemaggio.

There are three symbolic figures in the parade: the Bull Lady ( the woman carrying the ancient Papal Bull) the Young Lord (carrying an olive branch to open the Holy Door) and the Cross Lady ( cross that is offered to the Cardinal who opens the door).

In front of the church takes place the ceremony where the mayor reads to the citizens the bull and a Cardinal, chosen from the Holy See, knocks on the door three times with the olive branch. This way he can let the citizens in.

After the parade, there is a live concert hosting Italian and European artists.

In 2019 the Celstinian Forgiveness was declared a Unesco Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Tickets on sale for August 24-25-25-27>>>
Safety Mask and Green Pass are mandatory
No possible entry when the shows already started

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(Photos from the official Facebook page)