The Patronal Feast of Santa Candida is celebrated on the gorgeous Island of Ventotene from September 10 to 20 in the shade of the balloons.
Statue of Santa Candida in the Church of Santa Candida in Ventotene – Facebook @parrocchiasantacandidaventotene
A legend says that, in the fourth century AD, Carthage was razed to the ground and the young Candida was deported to Rome along with other Christians, and then tortured and martyred on the Ponza Island. Her body was thrown into the sea and found on September 20 in Ventotene, at the Pozzillo Cove. In 1774, the Bourbons built a church in honour of Santa Candida, the Patron Saint of fishermen and farmers, just like the inhabitants of the island who welcomed her at her arrival from the sea.
Church of Santa Candida in Ventotene – Facebook @parrocchiasantacandidaventotene
The Feast begins on September 10 with the Holy Mass in the Church of Santa Candida in Ventotene. From September 10 to 19, the Novena in honour of the Saint is celebrated, and, from September 18 to 20, evening concerts are performed.
Procession with the statue of Santa Candida – photo Facebook @comunediventotene
On September 20, A Procession through the streets of the island marks the end of the celebrations. The parade, accompanied by a marching band, starts early in the morning and, in the afternoon, the statue of Santa Candida is brought throughout the island on a small boat carried on shoulders, until it reaches the port. After climbing the beautiful stairs, the porters take back the Saint to her church.
Balloons at the Feast of Santa Candida – www.comune.ventotene.lt.it
The lights and decorations along the streets, the music, and the marching band are a prelude to the most awaited event, the launch of tissue paper balloons. Designed, created, and decorated by the inhabitants of the island, these works of art will rise amidst the fireworks in front of the port. The ancient Neapolitan tradition of tissue paper balloons (O pallò), passed down from generation to generation, arrived in Ventotene in the mid-1800s.
These masterpieces that, after floating in the air for a while, suddenly fall down into the open sea, are the most interesting, artistic and folkloristic attractions of the festival in the entire island of Ventotene. In 2011, the Patronal Festival of Santa Candida was awarded the special recognition of “Patrimonio d’Italia per la tradizione” by the Ministero del Turismo.
2023 postal stamp dedicated to Santa Candida – Facebook @comunediventotene
In 2023, on the occasion of the Feast of Santa Candida, the Ventotene post office produced a special postal stamp and postcards dedicated to the Patron Saint.
The show of the evocative balloons, flying over upward-looking thousands of people, embodies the artistic and folkloristic soul of Ventotene.