Every year, hundreds of thousands of Albanian pilgrims from all religions travel to the Saint Anthony Church in Laç, 35 kilometers from Tirana.
The pilgrimage culminates on the 13th of June. Hundreds of pilgrim travel gather one night before, on the 12th, of June to prepare for the ceremony.
The crowds become larger each year, forcing the police to take measures for guaranteeing their safety and limit traffic in the area.
This year it will be particularly difficult to manage, due to the situation with the coronavirus.
The Saint Anthony church was built by Franciscan priests who arrived in Albania around 1240, 10 years after the death of Anthony of Padua.
He was a Portuguese Catholic Priest born and raised to a wealthy family in Lisbon, and who died in Padua, Italy.
He was devoted to the poor and sick people and was one of the most quickly canonized saints in the church history.
