Feast of Our Lady of Miracles (Procession in the Boat)

A Grace That Became a Feast

The devotion of Tramutola, a village in the Val d'Agri in the province of Potenza, for Our Lady of Miracles is rooted in a miraculous event. It is said that on May 17, 1853, a miraculous rain ended a terrible drought that threatened the harvest, and that a "living flame" appeared on the image of the Virgin for days. Since then, the community has renewed the memory of that grace every year with one of the most heartfelt festivals in Basilicata.

The Madonna in the Boat

The climax is the Procession of the Madonna in the Boat, one of the most evocative in the region. The effigy of the Virgin is placed on a large boat adorned with roses and carried in procession through the streets of the town, following the historical and traditional route and stopping at places that recall the miracle. The floral boat, a symbol of salvation and faith, moves thousands of faithful and curious visitors every year.

Faith, Music, and Pyrotechnics

The celebrations combine the religious dimension with that of the great Lucanian popular festival: Solemn Holy Masses, a preparatory novena, a sung supplication, and a floral tribute alternate with band concerts, black powder shots, and pyrotechnic displays that illuminate the sky of the Val d'Agri. Musical bands, such as the one from the City of Viggiano, accompany the festive evenings.

Tramutola, Capital for a Day

In recent years, the festival has been enriched by the project "Tramutola, European Capital of Culture for a Day", which has also brought the procession of the Madonna in the Boat to a dedicated event in early June. Visiting Tramutola during these days means discovering a village in the Val d'Agri deeply connected to its roots, where faith becomes a community spectacle.