The Feast of St. Bernard

The second Sunday in September is a very special and long-awaited day in the town of Vigevano because it celebrates St. Bernard, one of the town's oldest festivals. The feast has its roots in a legend whose protagonist is St. Bernard of Clairvaux, who on his way to the city of Milan encountered - near Vigevano - the Devil. The saint managed to escape him, thanks to God's help, captured the evil creature and in collaboration with the inhabitants of Vigevano made a huge stake on which the Devil was executed. The great festival ends precisely with the lighting of a huge bonfire. According to tradition, if the flames of the bonfire are high and quickly consumed, the following season will be very auspicious for the city. There is no shortage of kiosks with local food products and musical performances.