Paniere in festa

As per tradition, the patronal feast day in honor of Blessed Diana Giuntini commences on Easter Monday in Santa Maria a Monte. 

Paniere in Festa, scheduled for April 21 and 22, is an event commemorating the transfer of the body of Blessed Diana. The centerpiece of the day is the procession, which begins at a chapel at the foot of a hill to reach the Collegiate Church inside the third ring of the ancient wall constructed to defend the Castle. 

The initiative unites the entire municipality. Indeed, the whole community puts aside any divisions and traditional parochialism, typical of the districts, to unite around the figure of its Patron Saint.

On April 21, beginning at 6:00 pm, each district offers the Saint a basket brimming with flowers, carried on the head of a lady accompanied by a horseman. The baskets form a veritable carpet of flowers all the way to the church in the historic center.

To mark the occasion, on April 21 and 22, the historic center comes to life with cultural initiatives, children’s activities, street theater and music. There are painting and photography exhibitions, performances, theatrical guided tours of the “underground city,” as well as street theater to entertain young and old. 

The museum hubs in the historic center will likewise be open to visitors on both days, with guided tours conducted ad hoc. 
Four museums can be enjoyed: La Rocca Archaeological Area, the attached Beata Diana Giuntini Civic Museum, the Carducci House Museum where the Carducci family lived from 1856 to 1858,
as well as the Clock Tower, an ancient defense of the medieval castle, which you can climb to enjoy splendid views of the entire Lower Valdarno.

• Clock Tower and Archaeological Area - free access
• Carducci House Museum - €4
• Civic Museum - €5
• Discounts for visitors aged under 18 years and over 60 years, as well as for groups of minimum 5 people
• Reservations not required