The legend of the Fountain of San Ponzo, located in the village of Fortunago, is a story steeped in faith and miracles. This tale has its roots in local tradition and tells of a gesture of generosity repaid with the gift of a miraculous spring, which saved an entire community from drought. Even today, the fountain is a pilgrimage destination and a symbol of hope for those seeking spiritual comfort.
Fortunago, with its timeless charm, is today recognised as one of the ‘Most Beautiful Villages in Italy’, thanks to its well-preserved architecture and panoramic location offering breathtaking views. Its cobbled streets, stone houses and quiet surroundings attract travellers in search of tranquillity and history.
However, Fortunago is not only known for its exterior beauty: it encompasses a cultural and spiritual heritage rooted in ancient times, and one of the most fascinating episodes in this village concerns the Fountain of San Ponzo, an object of veneration and pilgrimage destination.
San Ponzo is the patron saint of the village of Fortunago, and his figure is surrounded by mystery and legend. Ponzo probably lived between the 4th and 5th centuries, at a time when Christianity was taking root in the lands of northern Italy. According to local tradition, he was a hermit of great virtue, coming from a noble family that had renounced its privileges to devote itself to a life of prayer and penance. His origins, however, remain uncertain, but the cult of the saint has deep roots in the popular culture of the area.
The legend of the Fountain of San Ponzo is at the heart of local devotion and dates back to ancient times, when the people of these lands still lived in extreme poverty and depended entirely on nature to survive. The story goes that during a period of great drought, when the land was dry and the inhabitants of Fortunago suffered from a lack of water, a farmer met San Ponzo while wandering through the woods in search of food and sustenance.
The farmer, recognising in the saint a man of God, offered him the only food he had: a small loaf of bread and some milk. St Ponzo, moved by the farmer‘s generosity despite his extreme need, decided to reciprocate the gesture with a miracle. The story goes that the saint, with a decisive gesture, touched the ground with his stick. Suddenly, a spring of fresh, pure water began to gush out of the ground, right where the Fountain of San Ponzo now stands.
That water saved the life not only of the farmer, but also of the entire community of Fortunago, who from that day on could draw from the spring for their daily needs. The spring thus became a symbol of life, hope and gratitude for the miracle received.
Today, the Fountain of San Ponzo is a place of worship and pilgrimage. Although centuries have passed, pilgrims continue to come to this spring to collect the water, considered miraculous, capable of curing illness and alleviating suffering.
