Feast of Maria SS. della Vittoria ("Il Festone")

A patronal feast in the heart of the Marsica region

The Feast of Maria SS. della Vittoria, which the inhabitants of Scurcola Marsicana affectionately call "il Festone", is the most heartfelt event of the year for this village in the province of L'Aquila, in Abruzzo. Every year, around the last Sunday of August, the community gathers around the venerated wooden statue of the Madonna della Vittoria, in a blend of religious devotion, historical memory, and popular celebration that involves the entire town and attracts emigrants returning for the occasion.

The history: the Madonna della Vittoria and the Battle of Tagliacozzo

The cult of the Madonna della Vittoria has its roots in the Battle of Tagliacozzo, fought on August 23, 1268, in the Piani Palentini between the troops of Charles of Anjou and those of Conradin of Swabia. To celebrate the Angevin victory, a Cistercian abbey was built, of which only the evocative ruins remain today, which the locals call "le Muracce". According to tradition, a 13th-century wooden statue was found inside a chest near the abbey ruins; the work, now kept in the sanctuary adjacent to the Orsini Castle, is the focal point of the celebrations.

The procession and religious rites

The most solemn moment of the Festone is the procession of the Madonna's statue, accompanied by the entire population. During the festival days, the effigy reaches the ruins of the Cistercian abbey complex of the Muracce, the place that originally housed it, in a rite that combines faith and collective memory. Religious services are celebrated in collaboration with local confraternities, with Holy Masses presided over by authoritative prelates of the Diocese of the Marsi.

Concerts, shows, and village life

Alongside the devotional dimension, the Festone is also a major civic celebration: free concerts, musical evenings, shows, and cultural initiatives enliven the squares of the historic center, particularly Piazza della Venere and Piazza Risorgimento. The organization is entrusted to the Scurcola Marsicana Festival Committee, composed of citizens of all ages appointed by the parish priest and the mayor, who every year create a program that weaves together religious tradition and popular entertainment.

An event to experience in Scurcola Marsicana

Those visiting Scurcola Marsicana during the Festone discover an authentic village in the Abruzzo hinterland, dominated by the remains of the Orsini Castle and surrounded by the landscapes of the Marsica region. The festival is the ideal opportunity to learn about the history of the territory, its identity, and its traditions in an atmosphere of great popular participation.