The Carrese of San Martino in Pensilis

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The origin of the Carrese evokes several historical moments related to religion and agricultural tradition.

The legend of San Martino in Pensilis says that some local nobles, who went hunting together, accidentally came across the remains of St. Leo. Since each wanted to take them with them to their own fiefdom, after a heated discussion they decided to rely on the will of the saint by loading the remains onto a wagon and letting the animals lead them unguided. So it was that the remains arrived in San Martino in Pensilis, at the site of the town’s church and where St. Leo’s relics are still preserved. The relics were the subject of pilgrimages that took place on ox-drawn carts. Over time, it became a custom among pilgrims to compete to see who could get to the church where the saint’s remains were kept first, and so real races were organized, with departure from the place of discovery and arrival at the church.

Today the competition takes place on April 30, and the competing factions are divided into Giovani (blue-white), Giovanotti (yellow-red) and Giovanissimi (yellow-green). The race, in this case, being characterized by a 5-kilometer course, thus longer than in other countries, is marked by the changing of oxen along the sheep-track. The wagon that first crosses the archway leading to the square in front of St. Peter the Apostle Church, St. Martin’s Gate, wins.

Every community involved, the residents of neighboring towns and all those who have emigrated and return each year for the occasion, experience the time of the competition with great excitement and participation. The excitement and tension for the arrival of the event can be felt in the air even several days before the competition.