Easter Procession in Honor of Maria Santissima della Stella

The most heartfelt celebration in Rotondi

In the town of Rotondi, located at the western edge of the Avellino province in Campania, the most anticipated event of the calendar does not fall on Ferragosto or Christmas, but on Easter morning. This is the day when the ancient wooden statue of Maria Santissima della Stella leaves the sanctuary that guards it on the slopes of Mount Partenio and is carried on the shoulders of the faithful to the town center, to the archpriest church of SS. Annunziata. A descent that the local community simply calls "the coming of the Madonna," effectively marking the start of spring for the village.

The legend of the attempted theft and the birth of the Fucilieri

Local tradition tells of men from Avella who attempted to steal the venerated statue from the sanctuary. A young shepherd noticed the theft and ran to raise the alarm in the village: the people of Rotondi armed themselves with their muskets and chased the thieves away, bringing the Madonna back in procession through the streets. Since then—local memory dates the episode to 1795—every transfer of the statue has been accompanied by the roar of blank shots, a sign of joy, celebration, and protection.

The ritual is kept alive by the Gruppo Avancarica Fucilieri della Stella, a local association that fields an authentic historical pageant in costume. The muzzle-loading weapons, loaded exclusively with blanks, are fired along the route according to gestures passed down from father to son: a historical-religious re-enactment of great emotional impact, unique in the landscape of Campanian festivals.

How the day unfolds

• At dawn, the faithful climb to the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Stella, located at about 500 meters above sea level on the slopes of the Partenio.
• The statue is lifted and carried on shoulders along the descent that connects the sanctuary to the historic center.
• The procession of the Fucilieri leads and escorts the journey, marking it with the blank-fire volleys of their muskets.
• The arrival takes place at the church of SS. Annunziata, where the Madonna remains exposed for the devotion of the faithful.
• In the following days, tradition includes a procession through the streets of the town, linked to Easter Tuesday.

The Sanctuary of Maria Santissima della Stella

The sanctuary, documented as early as the late 16th century and extensively remodeled in the 18th century at the behest of Cardinal Vincenzo Maria Orsini, now features a single-nave church and a tall bell tower overlooking the Caudine Valley and the Taburno massif. It houses an ancient Byzantine-style wooden statue with a dark face, which popular devotion considers much older than the building itself. The last significant expansion dates back to the late 19th century.

Rotondi, between the Partenio and contemporary art

The village developed between the 13th and 14th centuries around the castle of the De Rorundis family and still preserves the Palazzo Maietta with its monumental portal, Palazzo Gallo, and the clock tower. In recent years, Rotondi has combined tradition with a project of contemporary art: old rural buildings on Via Varco have been transformed into permanent studios for artists, creating a sort of museum scattered throughout the urban fabric. The municipal territory is also part of the Partenio Regional Park: the CAI trail no. 203, known as the trail of the herds and plateaus, starts right from the sanctuary and climbs toward the Piani di Lauro.

Tips for attendees

This is a religious and popular event, not a ticketed show: access is free and can be viewed from the street. The blank shots are very loud—it is advisable to keep the distances indicated by the organizers and be careful with small children and animals. The route includes downhill sections on uneven terrain: comfortable shoes are recommended. Since the dates depend on Easter and vary every year, it is best to check the times with the parish or the Municipality of Rotondi in the days leading up to the event.