St. Matthew’s: The Heart and Identity of Salerno

St. Matthew’ Day is not just a patron saint’ day, it’ the very essence of being from Salerno. The evening procession is a solemn and vibrant event: six statues parade through the center, from the “Holy Martyrs” (ironically called ‘e ssore ‘and St. Matthew) to the massive St. Joseph carried by artisans, to close with the’Evangelist Matthew, carried by the bearers in red. After the devotion at the cathedral, the feast moves to the streets: the smell of stuffed spleen and o’musse fills the air, culminating at midnight with the legendary fireworks at sea that close the embrace between the saint and his city.