Descent and Ascent of the Madonna del Roseto
Since 1844, the wooden statue descends from Monte delle Rose to spend three months in the village
About Madonna del Roseto
Two processions that mark the summer in Solopaca
In Solopaca, a town in the Valle Telesina in the province of Benevento, Campania, summer does not begin with the calendar, but with a procession. On the first Monday of June, the wooden statue of Maria Santissima del Roseto leaves the sanctuary that houses it on Monte delle Rose and descends to the town center: this is the Descent. Three months later, on the first Monday of September, the same procession retraces the route in reverse, returning the image to its mountain home: this is the Ascent. In between, an entire season passes during which the Madonna remains on display in the Church of the Santissimo Corpo di Cristo, within reach of the prayers of the entire village.
The origins: the vow of 1844
The devotion is rooted in a specific historical event. The sanctuary, originally a Benedictine complex dating back to the 11th century and documented in a 1214 parchment, was destroyed by the 1805 earthquake; the wooden statue, attributed to the 13th century, was saved and remained forgotten for decades in the Church of San Mauro. In 1844, during a severe drought, the people of Solopaca cleaned the image, carried it in procession, and vowed to rebuild the church if rain returned. Tradition holds that heavy rain fell at the end of the rite: a few months later, reconstruction of the sanctuary began. In 1854, during a cholera epidemic, the statue was brought to the village again, establishing the custom of its three-month summer stay in the town center.
The Descent: a four-hour journey
The day of the Descent begins very early. From dawn, the faithful climb to the sanctuary on foot or by bus to attend the Eucharistic celebrations held throughout the morning; at the end of the final mass, the procession begins. The cortege descends the mountain and crosses the village via via Roma, corso Umberto I, and via Capitan Leonardi, with temporary closures of the main city streets. The journey lasts approximately four hours, accompanied by traditional hymns that the people of Solopaca know by heart. Participation is so deeply rooted that the Municipality orders the closure of all schools of every level each year, both for safety and traffic reasons and to allow students to take part in the rite.
Three months in the village and the August festival
Upon arrival in the center, the statue is placed in the Church of the Santissimo Corpo di Cristo, the mother church, where it remains on display for the entire summer. The stay in the village reaches its most festive moment on the first Sunday of August, when religious celebrations are joined by the secular side of the festival, with illuminations and performances in the square. The image, wearing a pink petticoat and a gold-embroidered sky-blue mantle, is dressed and adorned for the occasion according to a ceremonial handed down from generation to generation.
The Ascent: the return to Monte delle Rose
The cycle closes on the first Monday of September. The procession departs from the mother church and climbs the mountain slope back to the sanctuary, at an altitude of 608 meters, where the Madonna will once again become a destination for individual pilgrimages and Sunday outings throughout the rest of the year. It is the most intimate and moving moment of the two days: many faithful face the climb on foot, and from the sanctuary square, the view embraces the entire Calore Valley and the Taburno-Camposauro massif.
Why it is worth the trip
- An authentic religious festival, not reconstructed for tourists: the calendar has remained the same for over 180 years.
- The contrast between the mountain procession, slow and sung, and the village festival that enlivens the historic center in August.
- The Sanctuary of the Roseto, one of the most panoramic spots in the Sannio region, also reachable on foot along the path that climbs from Solopaca.
- The setting of Solopaca, a quintessential wine village in the province of Benevento, where Marian devotion coexists with farming and winemaking culture.
Madonna del Roseto — edition 2026
A summer with the Madonna in the village
The 2026 calendar of Solopaca's devotion opened on Monday, June 1st, the first Monday of the month, with the traditional Descent of Maria Santissima del Roseto. The Municipality of Solopaca ordered the closure of all schools of every level, both for public safety and traffic management reasons, and to allow the school community to participate in one of the town's most defining events.
The procession descended from the sanctuary on Monte delle Rose to the town center, crossing via Roma, corso Umberto I, and via Capitan Leonardi, with temporary closures of the affected streets. Since that day, the wooden statue has been on display in the Church of the Santissimo Corpo di Cristo, where it will remain for the entire summer period.
The highlight of the stay in the village is the Festival of Maria Santissima del Roseto on Sunday, August 2nd, 2026, with Piazza Vittoria transformed into the heart of the evening: at 10:00 PM, a major musical show dedicated to the Eighties is scheduled, combining the devotional aspect with the usual festive atmosphere shared by residents, families, and visitors.
The cycle will close on Monday, September 7th, 2026, the first Monday of the month, when the Ascent will return the Madonna to the sanctuary of the Roseto, at an altitude of 608 meters, on the slopes overlooking the Valle Telesina.
Programme Madonna del Roseto 2026
Monday, June 1st, 2026 — The Descent
- From dawn: faithful climb to the Sanctuary of the Roseto (on foot or by bus) and Eucharistic celebrations throughout the morning.
- At the end of the last celebration: start of the procession from the sanctuary towards the village.
- Route in the center: via Roma, corso Umberto I, via Capitan Leonardi, with temporary traffic closures. The journey lasts about four hours, accompanied by traditional hymns.
- Arrival and placement of the statue in the Church of the Santissimo Corpo di Cristo, where it remains on display all summer.
- Schools of all levels closed by mayoral order.
Sunday, August 2nd, 2026 — The Festival of Maria Santissima del Roseto
- Celebrations in honor of the Madonna del Roseto in the center of Solopaca.
- 10:00 PM, Piazza Vittoria: major musical show dedicated to the Eighties.
Monday, September 7th, 2026 — The Ascent
- Return procession from the Church of the Santissimo Corpo di Cristo to the Sanctuary of Maria Santissima del Roseto, on Monte delle Rose.
Exact times for liturgical celebrations are announced by the parish in the days immediately preceding each event.
Highlights Madonna del Roseto 2026
- Monday, June 1st: the Descent, with schools closed throughout the Municipality of Solopaca.
- Four hours of procession between the mountain and the historic center, marked by traditional hymns.
- Three months of exhibition of the 13th-century wooden statue in the Church of the Santissimo Corpo di Cristo.
- Sunday, August 2nd: festival in Piazza Vittoria with an Eighties show at 10:00 PM.
- Monday, September 7th: the Ascent, the return to the sanctuary at an altitude of 608 meters.
Prices Madonna del Roseto 2026
Practical information — Madonna del Roseto
Where it takes place
The processions connect the Sanctuary of Maria Santissima del Roseto (via Roseto, on Monte delle Rose, 608 m a.s.l.) and the Church of the Santissimo Corpo di Cristo, in the historic center of Solopaca (BN).
How to get there
Solopaca is located in the Valle Telesina, in the province of Benevento, and is easily reached by car. On the days of the processions, temporary traffic closures are planned along via Roma, corso Umberto I, and via Capitan Leonardi: it is advisable to leave the car on the outskirts of the town and continue on foot. Many faithful climb to the sanctuary on foot from dawn; bus transfers are also traditionally organized.
Costs
Participation in the processions and religious celebrations is free of charge. No tickets or reservations are required.
Tips
- Wear comfortable shoes: the procession lasts about four hours on a sloping path.
- Bring water and a hat in June and September: the mountain stretch has little shade.
- For exact mass times, it is advisable to check the parish notices in the days prior.
Information
Municipality of Solopaca, Piazza Municipio 1, 82036 Solopaca (BN) — tel. +39 0824 977725.
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Where does it take place — Madonna del Roseto
Santuario di Maria Santissima del Roseto (Monte delle Rose) e Chiesa del Santissimo Corpo di Cristo
Via Roseto, 82036 Solopaca