On Thursday, July 16, 2025, Pistoia will host the traditional vesting of the statue of Saint James (or Jacopo), located on the right side of the façade of the Cathedral of San Zeno. For the occasion, a historical parade will wind through the streets of the city center.
The color red evokes the martyrdom of Saint James, while the cloak refers to a curious local legend that depicts him as an insolvent debtor, who allegedly promised to pay his creditors when it became “very hot.” By July, he was found wearing a heavy cloak to show that the heat had not yet arrived.
Why this tradition? Click here to discover how Pistoia celebrates its Patron Saint.
