Events

Overlooking the beautiful waters of the Bolsena Lake, in the wonderful scenery of  Tuscia, the beautiful town of Bolsena is an enchanting village that hosts a great number of events, festivals and demonstrations each year.

 

Here is a list of the main events and celebrations held in Bolsena, in chronological order:

April:

 

-“Rievocazione della Passione di Cristo”(Recreation of the Passion of the Christ): a traditional religious celebration along the streets of the town.

May:

-“Festa della Madonna del Cacciatore”(Festival of the Madonna of the Hunter): a beautiful religious event held in Bolsena.

-“Festa della Pentecoste”(Pentecost Festival):

June:

 

-“Bolsena Ludo festival”: an interesting and entertaining musical event on the streets and in the palazzi of Bolsena.

-“Processione del Corpus Domini”(Procession of the Corpus Domini): a traditional religious celebration in the historic centre

-“Sant’Antonio da Padova”(St. Antonio of Padova): religious celebrations in honour of the saint.

-“Festa delle Ortensie”(Festival of the Hydrangeas): a wonderfully colourful botanic display in the piazzas and streets of Bolsena.

-“Palio del Lago”(Palio of the Lake): a historic recreation of the regatta held on the lake of Bolsena in 1472, a ‘palio’ is a banner or cloth won during some type of traditional race or contest, in this case a boat race that was held to celebrate the arrival of the pontiff.

July:

 

-“Santa Cristina”(St. Cristina): the most important and beautiful religious event organized in Bolsena, this festival includes a procession led by a statue of the saint.

August:

-“Festa di San Rocco”(Festival of St. Rocco): held on the 16th.

December:

 

-“Presepe vivente”(Living Nativity): a traditionally beautiful and elaborate nativity set up in the heart of the historic centre.

Must see events:

 

“Santa Cristina”(St. Cristina): One of the largest and most important religious events of its kind held in the entire Tuscia, this event takes place on the night of the 23rd in Bolsena,  where a statue of the holy martyr is carried out of the Cathedral and leads a procession through the streets of the town.

 

Every square crossed by the religious procession is decorated with scenes depicting the martyrdom of St. Cristina, adding to the beautiful and magical atmosphere.

 

These holy celebrations are given the name “Mysteries of Santa Cristina” and the path of the procession begins at the town cathedral, winds through the streets and finishes at the Church dello Santissimo Salvatore, located in the highest part of the town. Here the statue spends one night before returning to the Cathedral the next morning on a new procession.