Cerignola to host historical procession commemorating Madonna di Ripalta

The city of Cerignola will host a historical procession on September 5 to commemorate the legendary discovery of the Byzantine icon, the Madonna di Ripalta, in the year 1172.

More than 150 participants, including knights, flag-bearers, monks, and clergy, will take part in the reenactment wearing period-accurate costumes designed by Franco Dambra. The event aims to bring the medieval history of the city to life through a spectacle involving various social figures, from commoners to dukes and duchesses.

Prior to the main event, cultural activities will begin on September 3 at the Biblioteca di Comunità. An exhibition will feature 13th-century Ripalta parchments and artifacts from the Museo dei Vescovi of Canosa di Puglia. The program includes institutional addresses from local mayors and bishops, as well as historical insights into the origins of the sacred icon.