Feast of Our Lady of the Apparition - Pellestrina

An Apparition in 1716

The Feast of Our Lady of the Apparition has its roots in 1716, when, according to tradition, the Virgin appeared to Natalino Scarpa, a fourteen-year-old boy from the island of Pellestrina, asking for masses to be celebrated for the souls in purgatory. The event coincided with a crucial period for Venice, engaged in defending its territories from the Ottoman advance. In memory of the apparition, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Apparition was erected, which has been the spiritual heart of the island community for over three centuries.

Ten Days of Celebration

Every year, for about ten days around August 4th, Pellestrina gathers around its festival. The calendar alternates religious and popular events: the solemn mass, the procession with the image of the Madonna, but also live music, dancing, sports activities, and the unmissable food stalls set up in Piazzale Zendrini, where the flavors of the lagoon are enjoyed. The festival traditionally concludes on August 4th with the lottery drawing and a fireworks display.

The Identity of a Fishing Island

Pellestrina is a narrow strip of land between the lagoon and the Adriatic Sea, inhabited by a community of fishermen and lace-makers with strong traditions. The Feast of Our Lady of the Apparition is the time when this identity is most intensely manifested, also attracting expatriate islanders and visitors who reach Pellestrina by vaporetto. It is one of the most characteristic festivals in the municipality of Venice and the entire lagoon.