Assunta Landing - The Madonna Comes from the Sea
The statue of the Assumption arrives by sea on the Mondragone seafront
About Assunta Landing
When the Madonna arrives from the sea
In Mondragone, on the Domitian coast in the province of Caserta, the week of Ferragosto opens with an image that the locals know by heart: an illuminated boat moving slowly along the coast, with the statue of Mary Most Holy Assumed into Heaven facing the shore. This is the Assunta Landing, known to everyone by the title that accompanies every edition, "The Madonna Comes from the Sea".
The sea procession takes place on the Sunday before August 15th and attracts not only residents to the seafront but also the thousands of vacationers who crowd the beaches of this stretch of Campania in August. Those witnessing it for the first time are struck above all by the silence: when the boat appears on the horizon, the evening buzz fades away, leaving only the Marian hymns broadcast from the square.
A tradition born in 1980
Compared to other patronal festivals in Campania, the ritual is relatively young: it dates back to 1980, when the community wanted to reaffirm the Virgin's protection over the sea and the work of those who drew their livelihood from it. Since then, the event has been repeated every summer and has become one of the most defining moments of the Mondragone calendar, so much so that the statue is escorted by the boats of local fishermen, who follow the water pageant from a distance.
The route: from Baia Azzurra to Piazzale Conte
The route is always the same and it is worth knowing it to choose the best observation point along the coast:
- Baia Azzurra — the evening opens with mass on the beach and the boarding of the statue;
- the coastline — the boat travels along the beaches, which greet its passage with pyrotechnic displays;
- Piazza della Repubblica and Piazzale M. L. Conte — this is where the actual landing takes place, welcomed by prayers, songs, and the greetings of civil and religious authorities;
- the return to the parish — the procession goes back up via Doria, via Colonnello Oliveti, viale Marechiaro, and viale Regina Margherita.
The novena and the patronal festival
The landing is the most spectacular moment, but it is part of a much broader liturgical calendar organized by the San Rufino Vescovo parish. Everything begins at the start of August with the enthronement of the statue and continues with the novena in honor of the Blessed Virgin of the Assumption, preached by the vicariate priests, with the Holy Rosary and solemn vespers every evening.
On August 14th, the mass is animated by the "Dei Cantores" Polyphonic Choir and is followed by the procession with the Historical-Biblical Pageant, which crosses viale Regina Margherita and the streets near the parish. The day of Ferragosto opens very early, with the evocative Dawn Mass at 5:30 AM presided over by the Bishop of Sessa Aurunca, Monsignor Giacomo Cirulli, and continues with the day's celebrations.
Food festivals, tastings, and evenings in the square
Alongside the religious aspect, there is a civil program that transforms the neighborhood into a big village festival. The highlight is the Sagra dei Portoni, a tasting tour of typical Mondragone products animated by musical bands and activities for children. There is no shortage of scrippella, the fried spiral-shaped pastry that is traditionally prepared in Mondragone for weddings: the tasting evenings are held in the parish field and are accompanied by group dances. The concerts of the final evenings, which keep the seafront awake until late, bring the event to a close.
Why it's worth the trip
The Assunta Landing is one of those occasions where popular devotion and landscape merge: the sunset over the gulf, the profile of Mount Massico behind the city, the lights of the boats, and the fireworks on the water. It is also an excellent pretext to discover Mondragone outside the most chaotic beach season, between the seafront, the historic center, and the cuisine of the Caserta coast, from buffalo mozzarella to the fish of the gulf. Admission to all events is free.
Assunta Landing — edition 2026
The 2026 program in brief
The festival opens on Sunday, August 2nd, with the enthronement of the statue of Mary Most Holy Assumed into Heaven and continues from August 6th to 14th with the novena preached by the vicariate priests. The heart of the event is Sunday, August 9th, the day of the sea landing.
On August 14th, the mass is animated by the "Dei Cantores" Polyphonic Choir and followed by the Historical-Biblical Pageant along viale Regina Margherita; on August 15th, it starts at 5:30 AM with the Dawn Mass presided over by Monsignor Giacomo Cirulli. On the civil side, scrippella tastings in the parish field (August 10, 12, and 15), the Sagra dei Portoni on August 13th, and the concerts on August 15th and 16th close the festival week.
Programme Assunta Landing 2026
Liturgical program
- Sunday, August 2 — 8:00 PM: Holy Mass and enthronement of the statue of Mary Most Holy Assumed into Heaven.
- From August 6 to 14 — Start of the novena in honor of the Blessed Virgin of the Assumption, preached by the vicariate priests; 7:00 PM Holy Rosary with solemn vespers, 8:00 PM Eucharistic celebration.
- Sunday, August 9 — Holy Masses at 7:30, 10:00, 11:30 AM and 8:00 PM.
- Sunday, August 9 – "The Madonna Comes from the Sea" — 7:30 PM: Holy Mass at Baia Azzurra; at Piazzale M. L. Conte, welcome of the Madonna's arrival with prayers and songs, greeting by H.E. Mons. Giacomo Cirulli and the Mayor of Mondragone, Francesco Lavanga. 8:30 PM: Departure of the statue from Baia Azzurra, traveling along the coast by sea to Piazza della Repubblica, with the landing at Piazzale M. L. Conte. Return to the parish along via Doria, via Colonnello Oliveti, viale Marechiaro, and viale Regina Margherita.
- Friday, August 14 — 8:00 PM: Holy Mass animated by the "Dei Cantores" Polyphonic Choir, followed by the procession with the Historical-Biblical Pageant (viale Regina Margherita to the roundabout and back, via Venezia to via Tito Livio).
- Saturday, August 15 — 5:30 AM: Dawn Holy Mass presided over by H.E. Mons. Giacomo Cirulli and the city's priests, animated by the "Dei Cantores" Polyphonic Choir; Holy Masses at 7:30, 10:00, 11:30 AM and 8:00 PM.
Civil program
- Sunday, August 9 — "The Madonna Comes from the Sea": landing of the statue, arriving at Piazzale M. L. Conte around 9:30 PM.
- Monday, August 10 — 7:30 PM: "Scrippella" tasting in the parish field, with dance evening by Roby Dance School and group dances.
- Wednesday, August 12 — 7:30 PM: "Scrippella" tasting in the parish field, with dance evening by Roby Dance School.
- Thursday, August 13 — 8:00 PM: "Sagra dei Portoni", tasting tour of typical Mondragone products; evening animated by musical bands and children's entertainment.
- Saturday, August 15 — 7:30 PM: "Scrippella" tasting in the parish field; 10:00 PM: Concert by the CSIC Band, Vasco Rossi tribute.
- Sunday, August 16 — 10:00 PM: Concert "Titanium Party — Show, Dance and People".
Highlights Assunta Landing 2026
- The sea landing on Sunday, August 9: departure at 8:30 PM from Baia Azzurra and arrival at Piazzale M. L. Conte around 9:30 PM, with the boat procession and fireworks from the beaches.
- The Historical-Biblical Pageant on August 14 along viale Regina Margherita.
- The Dawn Mass on August 15 at 5:30 AM, presided over by Bishop Mons. Giacomo Cirulli.
- The Sagra dei Portoni on August 13, a tasting tour of typical Mondragone products.
- Scrippella tastings in the parish field, with dance evenings.
- Ferragosto concerts: CSIC Band (Vasco Rossi tribute) on August 15 and Titanium Party on August 16.
Prices Assunta Landing 2026
Practical information — Assunta Landing
How to get there
By car: A1 motorway, Capua exit, then SS7 quater Domitiana towards Mondragone; alternatively, from the A1 Cassino exit and SS630. By train: Mondragone-Cellole station on the Rome-Naples Tyrrhenian line, connected to the center and the seafront by local buses. By plane: Naples-Capodichino airport, about an hour's drive away.
Where to follow the landing
The departure takes place at Baia Azzurra, a few kilometers north of the city; the arrival is at Piazzale M. L. Conte, on the seafront. Those who want to see the entire procession can position themselves along the beaches of the coastline, which greet the passage of the statue with fireworks.
Practical tips
- Free admission to all celebrations and food festivals.
- Arrive well in advance: on the evening of the landing, the seafront is very crowded and nearby parking lots fill up quickly.
- Tastings are paid for by consumption, with tickets available on-site.
- In August, the accommodation facilities on the Domitian coast are fully booked: it is advisable to book months in advance.
Information
Program and updates on the Facebook page of the San Rufino Vescovo Parish of Mondragone.
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Where does it take place — Assunta Landing
Lungomare di Mondragone – da Baia Azzurra al Piazzale M. L. Conte
Piazzale M. L. Conte, lungomare di Mondragone, 81034 Mondragone