San Vito di Tricase - 9, 10, and August 11, 2014

Tricase from the 9th to the 11th of August we celebrate St. Vitus, the patron of the town of Salento.

The entire community lives with great anticipation these celebrations, the proof is the organization that each have, takes care of the celebrations. As often happens, then, we see the perfect fusion of the civil rites, religious, cultural events and festivals, becoming an excellent opportunity for fun.

The first day, in the Mother Church, held a prayer vigil, the next day a solemn procession from the street to the delivery of the keys to the mayor. Precise theories on the origin of the cult of the saint, we are told by Joseph Pisanelli, in his book News about people, things and pictures Tricase. An anecdote tells of particular importance that the parish priest Don Vincenzo Nesci, while walking in the countryside, was attacked by some dogs suffering from rabies. He managed to find shelter at a nearby chapel (the New Church or the Devils, dedicated to St. Mary of Constantinople) until the animals stopped, held back by a force can not be explained. The story of this miracle, is represented painted on a canvas that is on the altar of the parish church, on the left side of the front door, its altar dedicated to St. Vitus.

More News related to the life of the martyr, we report that, from adolescence on, he became the author of numerous miracles in his native land-Mazara del Vallo-. The exploits of the small Vito had never been frowned upon by his father, who, unlike him, showed a strong adulation for the pagan idols, to take certain actions to denounce the child to the Roman authorities. The young man, at this point, was forced to flee, but the dedication to the most needy and altruism toward people in distress, urged him to come back and be unintentionally affected by the violence of the emperor of the time.

Legend has it that the martyr returned from exile and went to the house of Diocletian, known for being a great persecutor of Christians. The latter's son, suffered from epilepsy but was cured of the disease through the intercession of the saint. This earned him the salvation and not when they refused to sacrifice to pagan idols, was however arrested and tortured to death. Torn by torture inflicted, died June 15, 303, along with her nurse and teacher who introduced him to Christianity.

From reliable sources it is clear that St. Vitus was proclaimed Patron of Tricase in the period from November 1771 to February 1807, exactly the same one that sees the town's parish led by Fr Vincent Nesci.

Over the years the festival has experienced periods of interruption or of particular splendor. Suffice it to say that in the early years, in the square opposite the Church of the Devils, he kept a great fair which was later canceled due to a location considered to be a bit 'too peripheral to the center, the heart of city life.

The fair was then eliminated. Only in 1937, under the mayor Achille de Nitto, they tried to restore this tradition that he met, however, a second setback at the outbreak of the Second World War. He then decided to dust it off at the end of the war, in 1947, and from there went on to the next 40 years.

In those years, the show found its original splendor, but over time, his destiny was to disappear permanently being replaced by two spectacular Palio: the Palio di San Vito and the Palio of which take place in the Plaza Pisanelli (a place of great historical vocation), and that carries with it the scent of ancient traditions and of a noble past.

The three-day festival are having the curiosity and participation of many tourists who watch demonstrations of dance, world music (pinches, the tarantula), musical concerts and the typical market with stands displaying the typical aluminum water Puzzu.

It all ends at midnight of the third day, with the fireworks that deliver the party the following year.