The ancient rite that still takes place today in Cocullo

Cocullo - Cocullo is a small, charming Abruzzo village. Walking through its narrow streets allows you to take a dip in the past, advancing among ruined houses, ancient churches and stone arches. Cocullo, however, is famous for a very specific reason, and it is a curious ritual that takes place once a year on the occasion of the feast of San Domenico, which is held on the first day of May.

San Domenico is strongly revered both here in Cocullo and in Villalago. One of the saint's molars is in fact preserved in the sacred buildings of both countries. According to tradition, San Domenico had the merit of reclaiming this area from the presence of poisonous snakes in the 11th century. So, to celebrate him, he 'dresses' his statue in snakes. The young people get up early in the morning to find them in the fields, and then place them on the effigy of San Domenico, who is then carried in procession. It seems that this custom is an ancient legacy, from the pagan era. This is why a request was made to UNESCO to make the ritual of the serpari an intangible heritage of humanity.