Market Fair of the patron San Valentino | Bientina

Bientina is very devoted to the cult of its patron saint, San Valentino, whose remains are preserved in the Pieve di Santa Maria Assunta.

The feast in honour of the patron is held every year on Pentecost Sunday, but celebrations continue the following days. The saint was a thaumaturge, known for his miracles against the possessed, so much so that he was named Saint Valentine of the possessed. His remains are kept in the Pieve, after being exhumed from the catacombs of San Callisto on the Appia Antica and given to a Roman noblewoman who in turn donated them to the community of Bientina in 1681.

Very popular with the faithful are the religious celebrations, including the Saturday evening procession with the Saint’s relic. Also of particular interest is the Sunday country fair, with stalls and funfair.

There are tales of real fights between the exorcist priest who wanted to drive the evil out of the body of the possessed man and the demon who screamed, wriggled, and attacked anyone who wanted to approach the silver bust depicting St Valentine, only to fall as if dead on the ground as soon as he touched it. It is also said that as far as the sound of the bells of the parish church of Bientina reaches, the devil cannot cross the magic circle formed by them and therefore those who live within it have no fear of being possessed.