Celebration of the Madonna del Sangue (Patron Saint's Feast)

The patron saint's feast of Portico di Romagna

The Celebration of the Madonna del Sangue is the patronal feast of Portico di Romagna, a fraction of the Municipality of Portico e San Benedetto, in the Province of Forlì-Cesena (Emilia-Romagna). It is traditionally held on the last weekend of May and brings together the entire community of the Apennine village around the devotion that gives its name to its most cherished sanctuary.

The Sanctuary of the Madonna del Sangue

The heart of the feast is the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Sangue, also known as the Chiesa della Compagnia, located along the main street of the historic center, at the foot of the ancient fortress. The building, likely of fifteenth-century origin, houses a valuable wooden panel depicting the Madonna del Sangue, attributed to the Florentine painter Lorenzo di Credi (1465-1537), placed above the main altar. The interior, a single nave with a cross vault, preserves seventeenth-century side altars: a small treasure chest of art and faith in the heart of Romagna Toscana.

A village linked to Dante

Portico di Romagna is one of the most evocative villages in the Forlì Apennines: stone alleys, noble palaces, the famous medieval Ponte della Maestà, and the tradition that links it to Beatrice Portinari, Dante's muse. It is in this setting that, once a year, the patron saint's feast revives the oldest traditions of the village.

Between faith and tradition

The celebration, organized by the parish with the support of the local community, revolves around the solemn mass in the sanctuary and the procession that winds through the streets of the historic center carrying the image of the Madonna. The Portico town band, the historic musical ensemble of the village, accompanies the procession. Sunday concludes in the square with the characteristic blessing of cars, a deeply felt ritual that also attracts visitors from neighboring towns.

Why it's worth participating

• Experience an authentic patronal feast, far from mass tourism, in one of the most beautiful villages of the Tuscan-Romagnolo Apennines.
• Visit the sanctuary and admire the panel attributed to Lorenzo di Credi.
• Discover the medieval historic center of Portico, the Ponte della Maestà, and the views of the upper Montone valley.
• Witness the procession and the blessing of cars, moments of strong community identity.