A wealth of traditions
Throughout the year, Conca d'Oru is enlivened by religious and cultural festivals that bring locals and visitors together around shared values: spirituality, sharing, remembrance and attachment to the land. These celebrations are opportunities to highlight the close link between religion, agricultural expertise, particularly in winegrowing, and the living heritage of this part of Corsica.
From ancient processions to more recent festivals, these events allow rituals to be perpetuated while adapting them to current cultural and environmental preservation issues. They bear witness to a unique way of life, nourished by tradition, solidarity and authenticity.
Here is a non-exhaustive list
the main religious and cultural festivals held at the Grand Site de France
The triennial feast of Our Lady of Mercy
The triennial festival of Saint Florent
Saint Erasmus' Day
Commemoration of Maria Gentile, the Corsican Antigone
Saint Anne's Day
The Guitar Nights Festival
Commemoration of the Battle of Teghime Pass or Strada di a Memoria
The parish festival of San Cervone
The Autumn and Rural Life Festival
The festival of sharing and wine at San Martinu
The triennial feast of Our Lady of Mercy
The Miracle of Oletta dates back to 1734, when Maria, wife of Giovan Bartolo known as Michele, saved her child from a fire after hearing a mysterious call. While praying before a painting of the Madonna, she saw tears flowing down her face, leaving an indelible mark. Recognised by Bishop Curbo, the painting was transferred to St. Andrew's Church, then installed in 1820 in a new church dedicated to Our Lady of Mercy. Since then, a triennial pilgrimage has celebrated this miracle, with nine days of prayers, a solemn mass and a procession to the House of the Miracle in Romanacce.
The triennial festival of Saint Flor
Celebrated every three years on Whit Monday, the feast of Saint Flor pays homage to the relics of the young Christian martyr whose remains were brought from Ostia to Saint-Florent at the end of the 18th century by Monsignor Guasco, Bishop of Nebbiu. The saint's shrine is carried in procession to Sainte-Anne Church, accompanied by the Santa Croce brotherhood. The town is decked out in red decorations and hosts a funfair over the weekend. The traditional boat race, which had disappeared, was revived by the association «I Remi Sanfiurenzinchi», whose first edition, on 17 May 2025, was a great success.
Saint Erasmus' Day
Every 2 June, several coastal towns in Corsica celebrate the patron saint of fishermen. In Saint-Florent, a statue of the saint is blessed and then carried in procession to the sea, accompanied by a blessing of the boats and the throwing of a wreath of flowers. The town is decorated in red and hosts a funfair throughout the weekend. The traditional boat race, which had disappeared, was revived by the association «I Remi Sanfiurenzinchi», whose first edition, on 17 May 2025, was a great success.
Commemoration of Maria Gentile, the Corsican Antigone
Tribute ceremony at the foot of the ruined house of Maria Gentile, who defied the ban to give her fiancé a proper burial after he was hanged at the convent of Oletta by French troops in February 1769 following a failed plot.
Saint Anne's Day
Patron saint of the parish church of Saint-Florent, Saint Anne is celebrated every 26 July. After the traditional mass, the statue of the saint is carried through the streets of the village in procession with the Santa Croce brotherhood before returning to the church. Following the religious procession, the faithful and villagers gather around a traditional meal: frog legs.
The Guitar Nights Festival
The Nuits de la Guitare festival was created in July 1990 by a group of winegrowers who were also guitarists and wanted to combine the pleasures of food and music through «the alliance of good and beautiful». Today, it is an internationally recognised cultural event that attracts several thousand spectators and features performances by some of the greatest guitarists.
Some big names such as Johnny Gallagher, Joe Satriani, Jeff Beck and Francis Cabrel have made notable appearances at Patrimonio.
Commemoration of the Battle of Teghime Pass or Strada di a Memoria
The Battle of Teghime Pass on 1 and 2 October 1943 paved the way for the liberation of Bastia and made Corsica the first department to be liberated from German occupation. The Moroccan goumiers, alongside the Corsican resistance fighters, played a crucial role in this. Every year, a commemoration brings together secondary school pupils for educational workshops retracing these events. In particular, they learn about the story of Ernest Bonacoscia, a young shepherd who guided the Allied troops. The renovated Teghime casemate, decorated with a historical fresco, bears witness to this decisive battle.
The parish festival of San Cervone
Celebrated on 11 October, San Cervone is said to have set foot on Corsican soil two years before his death, spreading his good word and performing numerous miracles.
The Autumn and Rural Life Festival
Created in 2008 around the San Martinu festival of sharing and wine, the autumn and rural festival celebrates Saint Martin of Tours throughout Corsica. For several weeks, a wide variety of activities (conferences, concerts, workshops, etc.) are organised to highlight the richness of Corsica's tangible and intangible heritage.
The festival of sharing and wine at San Martinu
On 11 November, Patrimonio celebrates San Martinu, a festival of sharing and wine. Created in 1990 by the village's wine brotherhood, it allows winegrowers to celebrate and share the new wine with the inhabitants of Patrimonio and beyond, in an atmosphere that combines religious tradition and a festive wine-growing spirit.