The Luminaria di San Domenico is an ancient tradition of Praiano's rich historical and cultural heritage. It is celebrated every year from August 1 to 4 in the Convent of Santa Maria a Castro (1599), where Saint Dominic is venerated. This devotion has been handed down since 1606, when the Dominicans of the Sanità arrived in Naples.

The candle of St. Dominic has a precise meaning: St. Dominic’s mother, before giving birth, dreamt of a dog with a torch in its mouth setting fire to the world, signifying that the unborn child would carry the Word of God throughout the world.

The festival of San Domenico is preceded by a Triduum, during which this fascinating and evocative tradition is carried out with the participation of all the citizens of Praiano, who decorate terraces, windows, alleys, and domes of their houses with unique and fascinating wax illuminations. Even more evocative is the decoration of Piazza San Gennaro, which is lit every evening by about three thousand candles.

In ancient times, torches were also made from tin cans, rags, oil, rancid lard, and petroleum, and large bonfires were built in gardens to store dried branches and vine shoots (called “fascine”) for the whole year.

This event has been taking place for no less than 430 years, but was revived and enhanced by the Municipality in 2001, based on an idea of the Praiano Tourist Promotion Committee (later the Pelagos Association).