Festa di Sant' Andrea or Festival of Sant’ Andrea is the largest religious celebration in Amalfi. The Festa celebrating the life of St Andrea (St Andrew) occurs twice per year, in summer and in autumn. The celebration includes a lot of activities, but the highlight is the taking out of the statue of the saint from the Cathedral (Duomo) and parading it to the seaside through steep areas of the town.
St. Andrea is said to be looking after fishermen and the townsfolk, especially after the huge storm of 1544, that kept the Saracen pirates away from the town. This event is particularly celebrated in summer. The autumn event commemorates the death of the Saint, his coffin is taken out of the church and opened. A symbol of the festival both in summer and autumn is a wreath put in the water to flow. It's accompanied by major fireworks around the Amalfi coast.
The Miracle of Manna
The solemn religious procession dedicated to St. Andrew starts after the late morning mass. People gather at the Piazza Duomo in expectation of the miracle of manna or holy oil. The oil is said to have been collected from the apostle's tomb, located in the Amalfi Cathedral dedicated to St. Andrew. The miracle of manna is performed a few times per year, and people believe that it can protect a house and its residents from evil, sickness, and bad luck. The miraculous properties of manna were discovered in 1304, when a local priest healed a blind man with it. The Cathedral also has other relics connected to the saint on display during the feast. However, the centerpiece of the celebration is the large statue of the saint made from gold and silver.
The Procession
The excited crowds anticipate the appearance of the statue of Sant’ Andrea at the entrance to the cathedral. From the top of the staircase. about twenty men in red jackets slowly and solemnly carry Sant Andrea statue, overcoming 62 steps. The devotees anxiously observe a slow descent down the steep stairway. As the statue nears the bottom, the crowds burst with applause and cheering. The procession proceeds through the streets of the town, accompanied by music, all the way to the sea. The parade ends at Marina Grande Baech and then returns to the Cathedral. The feast is concluded with a beautiful fireworks display after dark.
Festa di Sant' Andrea History
St. Andrew, who was one of the Twelve apostles and bother of St. Peter, traveled to preach the Gospel in Greece. There, at Patras, St. Andrew was martyred by crucifixion, and in 357, his remains were moved to Constantinople, to the Church of the Holy Apostles. In 1206, during the Fourth Crusade, St. Andrew’s remains were brought from Constantinople to Amalfi, where they remain in Amalfi Cathedral.
