Feste del Perdono in Valdarno

The Feste del Perdono (Festivals of Forgiveness) are rooted in the Middle Ages, specifically in the 11ᵗʰ century, when the practice of granting indulgences to the faithful for performing certain deeds—such as pilgrimages or acts of charity—became widespread. Even before taking on significance in the Catholic liturgy, these were festivals of Jewish origin, traditionally established by Moses at a time when the faithful were called upon to make amends for the wrongs they had committed throughout the year.

In Valdarno, according to scholars, the original festival from which all the “Perdono” stems appears to have been that of San Giovanni Valdarno, as noted in a papal bull issued by Pope Innocent VIII in 1486 and preserved in the Capitoli dell’Oratorio. The celebrations were linked to the veneration of the local image of the Madonna delle Grazie, whose indulgence was granted on the Sunday of the Assumption. Over the years, the celebrations spread to nearby towns, where they often intertwined with—and sometimes absorbed—other existing religious festivals.

Until the 1960s, the Perdono was closely tied to the sharecropping system. Celebrations were accompanied by markets and fairs where rural folk took the opportunity—at a time of year that marked the eve of important activities such as the grape harvest and plowing—to buy livestock and replace their tools. Today, these festivals have almost entirely lost their religious character. Still, they continue to be a time of coming together and a fundamental expression of collective identity for local communities.

The Festival of Forgiveness in Montevarchi stands out for its lively medieval reenactments. During the festival, the historic center is transformed with period decorations and is accompanied by a reenactment of the Gioco del Pozzo, one of the town’s most cherished traditions. This competition pits the 4 historic districts—Sant’Andrea, San Francesco, San Lorenzo and Santa Maria—against one another in a game that evokes the ancient rivalry between neighborhoods over the right to draw water from the city well during times of drought and conflict. The games combine the physicality and tackles of rugby with the tactics of basketball. The offense tries to score by throwing the ball into a central hoop, while the defense seeks to block their opponents.

It is worth noting that the Perdono di Montevarchi is the modern version of the ancient Festa del Sacro Latte di Maria Vergine (Feast of the Holy Milk of the Virgin Mary), celebrated to honor the relic of the Holy Milk preserved in the Church of San Lorenzo, being renamed only at the end of the 18ᵗʰ century, when the Fraternity of the Sacred Milk was dissolved. Alongside the competition, the fair, amusement park and the food stands create an authentic folk festival atmosphere.  

The Perdono of Terranuova is perhaps the most spectacular and longest-running of them all. It begins on Friday and concludes with a fireworks display on Tuesday evening. With over 400 editions under its belt, this is the longest-running Perdono in the Valdarno. Its identity is deeply rooted in the rural world. The historic highlight of the event is the decoy bird fair, a tradition that has its roots in the area’s farming culture and that, even today, remains a one-of-a-kind event, attracting enthusiasts and curious visitors from across the region.

A panoramic view of the village of Terranuova Bracciolini, with its characteristic terracotta roofs and a landscape of hills and mountains in the background.