We are finding that the Italian people really love their history and holidays. Recently Potenza hosted a 3-day festival in honor of San Gerardo, the revered patron saint of Potenza. This festival celebrates an event in the year 1111 when San Gerardo is said to have used a magical force of light to repel an attack on Potenza by intruders commonly described as “Turks”. Some myths say that the attackers were actually Saracens from the Syrian or Arabian desert, and other accounts assert that the fighting took place in Germany and the story was translated to southern Italy for religious or political reasons. Regardless of such details, the people of Potenza go all-in on this celebration which included days of singing and partying in the streets, and culminated with the very popular Parade of the Turks. Photos below provide a sample of the energy and color of this event.
