The tomb of the Apostle
The relics of St Matthew rest in the crypt of the Cathedral, a place of pilgrimage throughout the year.
Salerno · Feast of the Patron Saint
Saint Matthew 2026
11–21 September 2026
Eleven days
The programme
No events in this category.
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11 Friday
September-
time to be confirmed City
Floral tribute
Piazza Flavio Gioia
The floral tribute to the city opens the programme of the patronal feast.
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The City of Salerno's traditional floral tribute to its patron saint formally opens the celebrations in honour of St Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist, in the presence of Archbishop Andrea Bellandi and of the civil and military authorities.
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12 Saturday
September-
19:00 Liturgy
Holy Mass with the enthronement of the Patron Saint
The silver statue and the busts of the co-patron saints
Salerno Cathedral
The venerated silver statue of St Matthew is placed in the Chapel of Pentecost, in the left aisle of the Cathedral.
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The venerated silver statue of St Matthew (1691, by the Neapolitan silversmith Nicola de Aula) is solemnly placed in one of the cathedral's most important side chapels: the one in the left aisle known as the Chapel of Pentecost, which belonged to the Lembo family. It is the richest of them artistically, designed by the architect Ferdinando Sanfelice, with sculptures by Bottigliero (1717) and a marble altarpiece by Virginio Ogna.
The precious bust of the patron saint — a work of art in its own right, kept in the Museum of the Treasure of St Matthew — is offered to the veneration of the faithful in a richly decorated setting. The silver bust stands on an antique gilded base that gives the image a commanding position, particularly during the procession. In the chapel of the Pinto family, also prepared for the occasion, stand the co-patron saints: St Joseph, the Salerno martyrs Gaius, Antes and Fortunatus, and St Gregory VII.
The precious reliquary of the Apostle's arm remains in its usual place on the presbytery: the ideal and real symbol of the patronage of the Evangelist who defends the city.
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13 Sunday
September-
time to be confirmed Culture
Masterpieces for St Matthew
Life and cult from Capernaum to Salerno
Salerno Cathedral
Conference held by the University of Salerno. Talks by Adriano Amendola and Maddalena Vaccaro (DiSPaC).
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14 Monday
September-
20:00 Culture
Salerno reads Matthew
Continuous reading of the Gospel, with music
Arco Catalano
A continuous reading of a section of the Gospel of Matthew, interspersed with classical music by the “G. Martucci” Conservatory. With the participation of the Order of Journalists.
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15 Tuesday
September-
11:00 Liturgy
Visit of the relic of St Matthew
San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi d'Aragona hospital, Salerno
The arm of the Apostle is taken on visit, following the tradition that in the days of the feast brings it to the places of the city's civic life.
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20:00 Culture
The legend of St Matthew
Staged performance
Palazzo Genovese courtyard
The legend of the Apostle staged in the courtyard of Palazzo Genovese.
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16 Wednesday
September-
09:30 Liturgy
Visit of the relic of St Matthew
Guardia di Finanza, Caserma «Vincenzo Giudice», Salerno
The arm of the Apostle is taken on visit, following the tradition that in the days of the feast brings it to the places of the city's civic life.
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time to be confirmed City
All the treasures of the Cathedral
Relics and works for St Matthew and the patron saints of Salerno
Palazzo Giovanni Guarna – Hall of Arms
Conference held by the University of Salerno. Talk by Giuseppina Merola (DiSPaC).
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17 Thursday
September-
10:00 Liturgy
Visit of the relic of St Matthew
Casa Circondariale «Antonio Caputo», Salerno – Fuorni
The arm of the Apostle is taken on visit, following the tradition that in the days of the feast brings it to the places of the city's civic life.
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17:00 Liturgy
Visit of the relic of St Matthew
Order of Chartered Accountants, Via Roma 39
The arm of the Apostle is taken on visit, following the tradition that in the days of the feast brings it to the places of the city's civic life.
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18:00 Culture
Matthean Days
“What time is the end of the world?”
Church of Sant'Agostino
The message and relevance of Jesus's final discourse in Matthew 24–25.
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The Giornate Matteane are two meetings that the Archdiocese of Salerno-Campagna-Acerno holds within the solemn patronal celebrations, organised by its office for culture and art.
Antonio Landi, biblical scholar (PUU) — “Watchful and wise while awaiting the Lord's return. Keys to reading Mt 24–25”.
Emanuele Spagnolo, theologian (ISSR Lecce) — “What time is the end of the world?” Humanity, the future and fulfilment.
Chaired by the Most Rev. Andrea Bellandi, Archbishop of Salerno-Campagna-Acerno. Moderated by Prof. Lorella Parente, theologian and director of the diocesan office for culture and art.
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20:30 Culture
Conservatory concert
“G. Martucci” Conservatory
Temple of Pomona square
Open-air concert in the square by the Temple of Pomona.
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18 Friday
September-
11:00 Liturgy
Visit of the relic of St Matthew
Campolongo Hospital, Eboli
The arm of the Apostle is taken on visit, following the tradition that in the days of the feast brings it to the places of the city's civic life.
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18:00 Culture
Matthean Days
“What time is the end of the world?”
Church of Sant'Agostino
The message and relevance of Jesus's final discourse in Matthew 24–25.
More details
The Giornate Matteane are two meetings that the Archdiocese of Salerno-Campagna-Acerno holds within the solemn patronal celebrations, organised by its office for culture and art.
Annalisa Guida, biblical scholar (PFTIM Naples) — “The oil, the talents and the King”. The eschatological parables of Mt 24–25 and the call to live the waiting.
Giorgio Agnisola, art critic and essayist (Arts & Theologies) — “A profile of eschatology in Western art. Christian art between judgement, hope and fulfilment”.
Chaired by the Most Rev. Andrea Bellandi, Archbishop of Salerno-Campagna-Acerno. Moderated by Prof. Lorella Parente, theologian and director of the diocesan office for culture and art.
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19:00 Liturgy
Triduum – Holy Mass
S. E. Mons. Michele Autuoro
Salerno Cathedral
Mass celebrated by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Benevento, with the parishes of the Salerno East deanery.
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The Mass is also attended by the world of sport, through the diocesan office for leisure and sport.
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20:00 Culture
Organ concert
Gabriele Agrimonti at the 1954 G. Tamburini organ
Salerno Cathedral
Music by Charles-Marie Widor, Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Liszt and Gabriele Agrimonti.
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Gabriele Agrimonti is one of the most prominent Italian organists of his generation. Since 2022 he has been titular organist and artistic director of the historic J. Merklin organ of the French national church of San Luigi dei Francesi in Rome.
Born in Parma in 1995, he began studying music at ten and at thirteen was appointed co-titular organist of the Basilica of Santa Maria della Steccata in his home city. He graduated in organ and organ composition with top marks, distinction and honourable mention from the “A. Boito” Conservatory of Parma, then went on to the Paris Conservatoire (CNSMDP) to study improvisation, harmony, counterpoint, fugue and orchestration.
He has won prizes at the international improvisation competitions of Haarlem — by unanimous decision of the jury — St Albans, Strasbourg and Paris, the first Italian improviser ever to do so. He performs in the leading cathedrals, churches and concert halls of Europe.
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19 Saturday
September-
09:30 City
Palio di San Matteo
Regatta off the Santa Teresa beach
Santa Teresa beach
Organised by CONI – Campania Regional Committee and the Circolo Canottieri Irno rowing club.
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19:00 Liturgy
Triduum – Holy Mass
S. E. Mons. Davide Carbonaro
Salerno Cathedral
Mass celebrated by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Potenza – Muro Lucano – Marsico Nuovo, with the parishes of the Salerno West – Ogliara deanery.
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The liturgical music is led by the “Sacro Cuore di Gesù” choir of Bellizzi, conducted by Giovanni Moscariello.
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20:30 City
In Signo Matthaei
The Cathedral by night
Salerno Cathedral
From Pelagia's dream to Guiscard's Cathedral: the journey of the Apostle's relics, with the Salerno Pontifical as the thread of the narration.
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20 Sunday
September-
19:00 Liturgy
Holy Mass
S. E. Mons. Andrea Bellandi
Salerno Cathedral
Celebrated by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Salerno – Campagna – Acerno.
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The liturgical music is led by the Schola Matthaeana of Salerno Cathedral.
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20:00 Liturgy
Rite of the Gathering of the Manna
Salerno Cathedral
The rite that every year gathers the faithful around the tomb of the Apostle.
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21 Monday
September-
11:00 Liturgy
Pontifical Mass for the feast of St Matthew
S. E. Mons. Filippo Iannone
Salerno Cathedral
Celebrated by the Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops.
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The liturgical music is led by the Choir of the Diocese of Salerno, conducted by Remo Grimaldi, together with the choirs of the city's parishes.
Masses are also celebrated during the day at 6.30, 7.30, 8.30 and 9.30 in the Crypt of St Matthew, and at 7.00, 8.00 and 9.00 in the upper basilica.
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18:00 Liturgy
Procession of St Matthew
Through the streets of the city, with the blessing of the sea
Salerno Cathedral
The statue of the Apostle and the busts of the patron saints leave the Cathedral and cross the city, stopping for the blessing of the sea. The route is marked on the map.
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The statues of St Matthew, St Joseph, St Gregory VII, St Gaius, St Antes and St Fortunatus are carried in procession.
At 22.00, at the end of the procession, Mass is celebrated in the Crypt of St Matthew.
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Eight venues, all around the Cathedral
Where it happens
Tap a venue on the map to see the events held there and jump straight to the entry in the programme.
The map is currently unavailable. All the venues and their addresses are listed below.
The procession route
Monday 21 September 18:00 about 2.8 km on foot
The statue of the Apostle and the busts of the patron saints cross the old town and the city, with the blessing of the sea on the seafront, before returning to the Cathedral.
The stops
Streets along the way Via Duomo · Via dei Mercanti · Piazza Sedile di Portanova · Corso Vittorio Emanuele · Via Fieravecchia · Via dei Principati · Via Adolfo Cilento · Corso Giuseppe Garibaldi · Via Roma · Piazza Cavour · Via Porta Catena · Largo Campo · Via Giovanni da Procida · Via dei Mercanti · Via Duomo
Route, stops and streets taken from the Archdiocese's own mapping.
For visitors
Good to know
Getting here
The old town is pedestrianised. It is about a twenty-minute walk from Salerno station along the main street.
Pilgrimages
Parishes and groups planning a pilgrimage can request the guide booklet from the Archdiocese.
Contact
For information about the events, write to the offices of the Archdiocese of Salerno-Campagna-Acerno.