Sicily Stars for the Feast of St. Francis in Assisi, October 4th

During an Assisi guided tour, tour guests often ask me if San Francesco is the patron saint of Assisi. Per niente! (“For nothing”, ie., “no way”).

San Rufino, 3rd-century martyred bishop, is Assisi’s patron saint and San Francesco is the much-loved patron saint of all of Italy. If you’re ever in Assisi on his feast day, October 4th, you’ll feel – and share in – la grande passione. It’s contagious.

Every year, one of the 20 regions of Italy brings the oil which will burn all year in the votive lamp over the Saint’s Tomb in the 13th-c. Basilica di San Francesco (and mille grazie to Andrea Cova for his photos of the lamp and the Tomb):

This year, that honor went to Sicily and representatives of the region brought 1000 litres of olive oil for the voitive lamp – and also grandissimo entusiasmo for their participation in the celebrations.

Local police, mayors, ciity officials of numerous cities and towns of Sicily joined the morning procession to the Basilica di San Francesco.

The gonfalone (banner or standard) of each city was carried solemnly, flanked by local police in most cases:

What a joy to connect with beaming members of the delegation from Palermo, hometown of my husband Pino:

As hosts of the festival, Assisi had a primary position, logicamente. Local personages in the medieval dress of the Assisi colors, blue and red, gathered before the Palazzo Priori – city hall since the 14th century – where the procession to the Basilica di San Francesco would start.

Trumpeters in blue and red medieval dress were nearby as they would announce the start of the celebration blaring on their trumpets, l’nno di Assisi (the hymn of Assisi):

The white and yellow banner of Sicily was draped on the wall of Palazzo dei Priori, just below blue and red banners of Assisi:

The Calendimaggio gonfalone (banner) would preceed those assisani in medieval dress:

An elegant couple in blue of La Nobilissima Parte de Sopra (“The Most Noble Part of Upper Assis”), stood proudly near their flag:

Not far away, a couple in tht rich red of La Magnifica Parte de Sotto (“The Most Magnificent Part of Lower Assisi”) stood under a medieval arch to the right of the banner of their “Parte“:

Templars from all over Italy joined in the festivities this year, gathering proudly in their white tunics with red crosses near Palazzo dei Priori. Many would also carry banners of Sicilian locales in procession:

Soon the doors of Palazzo dei Priori opened and multitudinous mayors of Sicily in their red, white and green sashes came solemnly down the steps, joining the Assisi mayor, Stefania Proietti, dressed in white. The Assisi trumpeters were ready nearby to call all to the festivities with the Assisi hymn::