Cosmo and Damian 2026

Cisternino / Alberobello, Puglia, Italy. Saturday / Monday 26/28-September-2026. 

A double celebration of twin saints. I can’t believe I have not blogged this spectacle before as it happens every year and we are usually here for the procession.

 Saturday 26-September-2026. 

The town of Cisternino celebrates Saints Cosmo and Damien, patron saints of doctors, surgeons, pharmacists, dentists, nurses and veterinarians, and unsurprisingly, twins. The banner is followed by a parade of the faithful then the Confraternities in their white robes. Next come Cosmo and Damien, not sure which one is which. Finally the great and the good heading up the band.

I have noticed that the devout following the flag walk in twos down either side of the road. Google tells me that the middle of the street is deliberately kept clear because it is reserved for the most sacred elements of the procession including the clergy and the priest or bishop and the sacred image or statue of the patron saint or the Madonna. The walking in pairs have a variety of significations.

The Confraternities are official brotherhoods of laypeople organised for religious and social purposes dating back to the Middle Ages (around the 12th and 13th centuries). Members often wear traditional hooded robes (cappe or sacco) and capes. I am glad to say that our local fraternity haven’t gone for the pointed hoods with eye holes that make them look like the KKK!

For this procession, they have gone old school carrying the effigy on their shoulders. Unlike the Blessed Virgin Mary on her electric milk float.

Apparently, it is usual for Saint Damian to be in pole position (see what I did there!) followed by Saint Cosmo. 

Finally, the priests followed by the great and good in their best dress uniform and insignia bring up the rear followed by the band.

Monday 28-September-2026. 

Alberobello celebrates Saints Cosmo and Damian as they are the patron saints of the town. Our friends who live just outside Alberobello invited us over for lunch after which we walked into town to observe the festivities followed by a concert

We arrived just as the leading standard bearer turned off the main street up into the street leading to the church.

Again, the faithful walked two by two keeping the centre of the street clear. Many of them were carrying lighted candles.

Saint Damian supported on the shoulders of the Alberobello Confraternity in their green cloaks. They were constantly swapping places so that everyone got a turn at shouldering the saint. Once relieved of their position they went to the back of the queue to continue the rotation.

Saint Cosmo in second place. Apparently, the more prestigious position because he is closer to the priests right behind him.

And next in the parade are the religious type's.

Once the statues and the priests have passed the whole width of the road is available for walking. Representatives of various towns in the region join in the procession: Conversano, Fasano, Locorontondo, Martina Franca, Noci, Putignano. Presumably, Cisternino is not represented as they have already done their religious rites. 

As always the band, Don Giovanni Cipriani from Turi, is tail-end Charlie belting out some lively marching tunes.

Up in the main Piazza del Popolo they had set up a bandstand for the concert from Premiato Concerto Musicale "Paolo Falcicchio" from Gioia del Colle conducted under the baton of Maestra Susanna Assunta Pescetti.

We managed to snag ourselves some seats with good views.

Here they are playing the Triumphal March from Verdi’s Aida giving it some welly on the trumpets. They played for just under an hour and then took a break at which point we decided to bail and went home for a last glass of wine.