Feast of Saint Anthony of Padua and the procession of the Cente - Altavilla Silentina (SA)

JUNE 13TH

The “Cente” procession is held on 13 June in Altavilla Silentina, in the province of Salerno, in honour of Saint Anthony of Padua.

The entire population of Altavilla and the neighbouring towns take part in the procession, especially those who have received a grace from the Saint and therefore take part by bringing a meal “for the grace received”.

The “cente” are special votive offerings, usually in the form of a boat, made up of candles of different sizes mounted on wooden and metal frames, decorated with ribbons, candles and flowers, bearing the name of the contrada/rione to which they belong or that of the individual offering them, and carried on the shoulders of the faithful.

The procession begins at 9 a.m., after mass, and ends in the evening at 11.30 p.m. It consists of carrying the “cente”, usually thirteen, and the statue of the saint to every house in the village, where tables with lace tablecloths and baskets of flowers are prepared to receive it.

Altavilla Silentina’s devotion to Saint Anthony of Padua dates back to 1799, when the population sided with the Jacobins of the Neapolitan Republic and provoked the repression of the Sanfedists.

The inhabitants then called on the saint’s help, thanks to whose intercession the Sanfedist cannon broke into thirteen pieces (the number of the saint), which are still preserved today, thus ending the siege of the city.

The Festa delle Cente is still very popular and in recent years the number of cente offered, which is usually 13, has risen to over 20. This is also due to the various events promoted in the town to spread the tradition, such as the “Palio delle Cente”, an annual event in which the contrade compete in games and races with the “Cente”, or “Libertà e moti cilentani”, a historical re-enactment in costume of the siege of 1799 and the subsequent miracle of Saint Anthony.