| The Great Feast of the Patron Saint is dedicated to the Madonna of Constantinople and takes place over several days before reaching its climax on the first Tuesday of September. This religious celebration begins the previous week with a solemn procession that will accompay the icon of the Virgin through the 7 parishes of Acquaviva. The Sunday before the Tuesday of the feast, there is the Historic Procession: it commemorates the entry of the icon of the Virgin as legend narrates, followed by figures in medieval costumes.
On the last day, Tuesday, the ceremony of the Throning takes place, during which the Mayor presents the keys of the city to their patron saint, while an evening procession of faithful will accompany the icon along the city streets. At midnight there is the most spectacular event: the launching of the large aerostatic balloon, measuring 42 meters around, this is a tradition that has taken place since 1848. The balloon is inflated with the smoke produced by burning damp straw. |