B.V.M. Maris Stella Patronal Feast

A seaside festival in the heart of Salento

The B.V.M. Maris Stella Patronal Feast is the most anticipated event of the summer in Torre Suda, the small seaside village that serves as the only hamlet of the Municipality of Racale, in the province of Lecce. Overlooking the Ionian Sea, this coastal resort in lower Salento gathers every year around mid-August to honor its protector: the Blessed Virgin Mary Maris Stella, the "Star of the Sea" dear to coastal communities and sailors alike.

The festival blends two inseparable souls of Apulian tradition: the religious and the secular. Around the B.V.M. Maris Stella parish church and the streets of the marina, liturgical celebrations, community gatherings, and performances animate the summer evenings until late at night.

The sea procession

The heart of the festival is the procession. After Holy Mass, the effigy of the Madonna Maris Stella is carried through the streets of the village down to the sea, where the statue is placed on a boat pushed by hand by the faithful along the evocative Canale della Volpe (known in local dialect as "t'urpe"). It is an ancient and moving ritual that renews the deep bond between the community of Torre Suda and its sea, symbolizing the Virgin's protection over fishermen and all those who live along this stretch of coast.

Music, lights, and fireworks

The secular side of the event turns the marina into an open-air stage: brass bands, concerts in the square, traditional light displays, and food stalls accompany the festivities. A must-see is the Cuccagna a mare, the popular "greasy pole" game suspended over the water that delights both adults and children. The most spectacular moment arrives at midnight, with fireworks reflecting over the Ionian Sea, drawing not only the faithful but also the many guests spending their summer in this enchanting seaside spot.

Torre Suda and Racale

Torre Suda takes its name from the ancient coastal watchtower and is now one of the most beloved seaside destinations on the Ionian side of Salento, with its low cliffs, natural pools, and crystal-clear waters. The patronal feast is the perfect opportunity to experience the authentic popular tradition of Salento, balancing the sacred and the profane, and to discover the hospitality of the Racale area, in the heart of the lower Salento region of Lecce.