A religious event, yes, but also a cultural and deeply identity-based one, involving the entire city community.

Every year on August 7th, Poggio Mirteto transforms into the beating heart of Sabine devotion with the Historical Procession of San Gaetano Thiene, a ritual dating back to 1694.

A people on the move

The day begins with the opening of the churches of San Rocco, San Giovanni, and the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, which host the scenic elements of the parade. At 6:00 PM, the ringing of bells summons the members of the Confraternities of Poggio Mirteto: the Gonfalone, with its characteristic blue vestments, and the Misericordia, Orazione, and Morte, in black.

The confraternities meet in the Cathedral square, where one of the most solemn moments of the day takes place: the parade and entry into the church according to a centuries-old order.

Ancient symbols, vivid emotions

Among the visual highlights of the procession are the two monumental Crocioni: processional crosses over 4 meters high and weighing approximately 50 kg, each decorated with golden ivy leaves. The blue Crocione, a sheet metal copy of a 19th-century original, represents the Confraternity of the Gonfalone; the black Crocione, on the other hand, is the 17th-century wooden original. The passing of the cross from one brother to another along the route is one of the most tense and engaging moments.

Another outstanding scenic element is the historic banners: that of the church of San Rocco (1831), depicting the Madonna and Child with Saint Roch; and that of San Giovanni, created in 2018 as a scenic copy of a work by the Roman painter Plautilla Bricci, now mounted as an altarpiece in the church.

The Statue and the Processional Machine

After the religious service, presided over by the Bishop of the Diocese of Sabina-Poggio Mirteto, the procession begins. At the center is the precious gilded wooden statue of Saint Cajetan of Thiene, commissioned in 1700 by the Compagnia della Misericordia. The Saint is depicted according to classical iconography: lily and pen in hand, next to a Child offering him a silver inkwell.

The processional machine, once lost, was reconstructed by local artisans using furnishings from the Cathedral and today represents a perfect example of the valorization of devotional heritage.

Tradition and Contemporary Creativity

In 2021, Poggio Mirteto launched the International Sculptural/Mosaic Art Competition for the embellishment of the processional machine. European artists are invited to create works inspired by the life and miracles of the Saint. The winning bas-reliefs are then placed at the base of the statue, creating an evolving contemporary art exhibition.

A community celebration

The procession concludes in the central square with the Bishop’s blessing and a thrilling fireworks display. The entire event is passionately organized by the Confraternite Poggiane in collaboration with the Municipality and the Pro Loco of Poggio Mirteto. An event not only to be seen, but to be felt. A living example of how tradition, when shared and lived with all its heart, becomes a heritage for all.

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