The charming Italian town of Maratea will celebrate the festival of Saint Biagio from 9-12 May 2024. Elsewhere in Italy, Saint Biagio is celebrated on 3 February, but Maratea is home to the Sanctuary of Saint Biagio—a beautiful church dedicated to the saint—and so they celebrate over the course of four days in May with great devotion and festivities. The celebrations in Maratae are specifically held in May, as this is when the saint first arrived in the area in the 8th Century.
Who was Saint Biagio?
Saint Biagio, also known as Saint Blaise in English, was a 3rd-century Christian martyr. He is venerated as a saint in both Eastern Orthodox and Catholic Churches and is particularly known for his miraculous healing of throat ailments. He was a hermit who lived his life in solitude as a religious discipline. The animals of a nearby forest fed him, and in return, he fed them when they were ill.
The patron saint left his mark in several areas throughout the region, the most notable of which is atop Mount San Biagio. Overlooking Maratea, the mountain top is home to a statue of Christ the Redeemer, who guards the town beneath.
How is Saint Biagio celebrated?
Maratea pulls out all the stops every second week in May to celebrate Saint Biagio. From the early hours of Thursday, until the sun sets on Sunday evening, the town centre is filled with lights and comes alive with events, from live concerts to outdoor markets selling traditional local products.
Celebrations start with a Thursday procession, usually accompanied by a praying crowd, bringing the San Biagio statue from its sanctuary at the foot of the Christ statue to the centre of Maratea.
The statue, covered by a characteristic purple-red cloth, is then symbolically received by the local head of the church and the mayor. On Friday, there is the Holy Mass in the Mother Church of Maratea, followed by a procession of the Saint on Saturday.
Music and prayers accompany the processions and sometimes traditional dances, creating a festive atmosphere. Finally, on Sunday evening, the statue of San Biagio returns to the Castle.
The celebrations are distinct to the area and attract faithful and curious visitors from all over Italy and beyond.
Where to stay in Maratea?
Hotel Santavenere is the only five-star hotel in Maratea and is a perfect place to stay for those visiting the town to experience the Saint Biagio festivities.
One of the hotel’s aspirations is to show travellers the hidden paradise of Maratea. It blends modern luxury and timeless Italian charm and is just an hour and a half from Salerno Costa d’Amalfi Airport, which, as of 13 July 2024, will offer direct flights from London Gatwick via EasyJet.
The 34-room hotel set atop the cliffside invites guests to experience unparalleled hospitality against the backdrop of the Tyrrhenian Sea.
New for 2024, Hotel Santavenere will have undergone a light touch refurbishment, too, and will unveil eight transformed garden rooms by the Egnazia group’s preferred designer, Pino Brescia.
Prices start from €169 (approx. £145) per night for a Superior Room with Garden View on a bed and breakfast basis.
The nearest international airports are Salerno Costa d’Amalfi Airport (approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes by car) and Naples Airport (approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes by car). The nearest train station is Maratea (less than 5 minutes by car). For further information, please visit https://santavenere.it/en/santa-venere-maratea-eng/.