08/24/2026
A UNESCO-recognized tradition meets Italy's 2026 Capital of Culture. 🇮🇹
The 732nd Perdonanza Celestiana returns to L'Aquila, Italy's 2026 Capital of Culture, celebrating one of the city’s oldest and most meaningful traditions. Listed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage List since 2019, the celebration traces its origins to 1294 when Pope Celestine V proclaimed a historic act of forgiveness that many consider the first Jubilee in Christian history.
From August 23–30, L'Aquila comes alive with historic processions, concerts, cultural performances, and religious ceremonies, including the opening of the Holy Door at the Basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio—a symbol of peace, reconciliation, and hope that continues to draw pilgrims and visitors from around the world.