Solemnity of the Assumption

This solemnity is deeply felt in Spoleto and in the entire diocese; Santa Maria Assunta is, in fact, the main patroness of the Spoleto-Norcia Archdiocese and many parishes and churches are named after her, including the Cathedral of Spoleto.

The Solemnity of the Assumption is among the city's oldest religious festivities. In the tradition of Spoleto, the celebration revolves around the Holy Icon, a Byzantine tablet depicting the Virgin Mary that was donated to the city in 1185 byEmperor Frederick Barbarossa as a sign of peace after he had destroyed and conquered the citythirty years earlier on 20 July 1155.

The icon is kept in the Cathedral, where, in 1626, a Baroque-style chapel was built specifically to house it.

On the eve of the feast day, the Archbishop, accompanied by religious, faithful and representatives of city institutions, carries the precious tablet in procession from St. Gregory's Church to the Cathedral, amidst singing and prayers. On 15 August the Archbishop presides over the solemn pontifical in the Cathedral and at the end of the Mass he goes up to the central loggia, as per ancient tradition, to bless the city with Holy Icons.

In the past, the celebrations involved the civil and political authorities much more directly, also having a strong impact on city life. Since the 12th century, for example, the inhabitants of castles and villas gathered in Spoleto precisely on 14 and 15 of August to pay their taxes and attend to other errands. In those and subsequent days, the rigours of justice were relaxed, so that some offenders could not be imprisoned and prisoners could obtain amnesties from Priors and Captains of the Arts.

TOMBOLA DI FERRAGOSTO

Today, the feast of the Assumption is almost exclusively religious, but the more profane connotations associated with the feast have not been lost, finding expression in the popular events and games usually scheduled during the Ferragosto (mid-August) period and ending on 15 August with the traditional tombola (raffle) in Piazza del Mercato.