Alberobello
and its patron saints

Saints Cosmas and Damian

27th September

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Did you know? Alberobello is one among the 41 Italian sites included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Discover here this unique town and its patron saints, Saints Cosmas and Damian.

Saints Cosmas and Damian

According to the tradition, saints Cosmas and Damian were two brothers, of Arab origin, who lived between the 3rd and 4th century.
 They were doctors, having learned the medical science in Syria. Being also Christians, they dedicated themselves to assisting the sick without asking for any money from needy people. Through this activity, they could also preach and spread the word of Christianity. Their most famous miracle was the replacement of a patient's ulcered leg with another one taken from a recently deceased man.

This preaching eventually cost them their life. During the persecution of Christians ordered by the emperor Diocletian, Cosmas and Damian were tortured and beheaded, together with other Christians.

The veneration for these two saints quickly spread after their death, with churches dedicated to them in Constantinople, in Asia Minor, in Bulgaria, in Greece, Jerusalem, then Rome and Europe. They inspired a great number of painting and other art creations about their life.

The patron saints celebration

Saints Cosmas and Damian are celebrated every year with a five day celebration. Initially, in the 17th century, the local count used to keep and worship a painting of the two saints and the painting used to be taken around the town during the religious procession, every year on 27 September. In 1782 the statue of saint Cosmas was made and, while entering the town, he made his first miracle: a heavy rain after a long period of drought. Two years later the faithful made the statue of saint Damian and the two statues replaced the painting in the procession.
Acquista le statue di San Cosma e Damiano
Since then, the religious ceremony has taken place every year: Holy Masses, a procession on the 27th morning, another gala procession on the 28th evening, with the local authorities and representatives from neighboring cities and meetings with believers coming from abroad.

Non religious events include several concerts with bands and groups, and spectacular fireworks.

Don't miss this opportunity to visit this gem of Italy!

Comune of Alberobello

Alberobello - Coat of arms
by Araldicacivica.it

Alberobello is in the Puglia region. Its altitude is 428 metres above the sea level and has about 11,000 inhabitants.

It is built on two hills, the eastern one with the modern buildings and 
Trulli House Detail, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Terra dei Trulli, Alberobello, Puglia, Italy
Trulli House Detail, UNESCO World Heritage Site
Terra dei Trulli, Alberobello, Puglia, Italy
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the western one with its typical, unique houses, called trulli, which are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Characteristic of these buildings is their roof, pyramidal or conic. There are trulli also in other areas of the Puglia region, but in Alberobello there is the highest concentration, over 1400 of them.

Alberobello origins date back to the second half of the 16th century. At that time it was a small feud owned by the noble family of Acquaviva. The counts allowed the farmers to build their houses only without mortar, so that, in case of a royal inspection, they would have been able to quickly demolish them and make them look like ruins. Otherwise, if it had appeared as a new town, the counts would have been obliged to pay a tax. Then, in 1797, a group of citizens, tired of continuously having to build and destroy their own houses, went to Taranto to ask for the king's help. Soon after that, King Ferdinando IV granted the small village its independence.

The biggest trullo, a two storey trullo called Trullo Sovrano, is now used as a museum where you can learn about local history and traditions, agriculture, olive oil production (you can taste it, too!), admire the ancient furniture. It's like stepping in the past!

Very close to the city centre there is a wood composed of several types of oaks, the Bosco Selva, a protected nature reserve. (By the way, Alberobello means "beautiful tree", with reference to a big oak once existing there, or a group of trees).



Here you can immerse yourself in the nature, enjoy a walk along the footpaths named after plants and animals and admire beautiful flowers like peonies and wild orchids. Many animal species live in the wood, from the fox to the coluber (a small snake), birds like the hoopoe and the jay, and in two ponds live the newt and the toad. Misses may want to try and kiss one, who knows, it might turn into a beautiful prince!

Enjoy your visit!

Alberobello hotels

Don't miss the opportunity to visit Alberobello at any time of the year!

Other important recurring events

  • Beginning of August: International Folk Festival
  • December: Christmas amongst the Trulli



For more information:
Comune di Alberobello
Ufficio Turismo
Piazza del popolo 32
Alberobello BA
tel. +39 080 4321200




e-mail: info@comune.alberobello.ba.it

Visit the official website of the Comune di Alberobello



When you contact this comune let them know you found them on www.calendar-of-patron-saints-and-cities-in-italy.com

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