Feast of Our Lady of the White

The Night of the Candles

In Portovenere, a UNESCO World Heritage village in the province of La Spezia, the Feast of Our Lady of the White is the most heartfelt and evocative event of the year. On the evening of August 17th, the entire seaside village lights up with over two thousand candlelights, torches, and lanterns that illuminate the characteristic tower houses, Doria Castle, Byron's Grotto, and the church of San Pietro overlooking the sea.

An Ancient Cult

The devotion to Our Lady of the White dates back to a miracle in 1399: during a period of occupation, a parchment depicting the Madonna inexplicably regained its color. The image, according to tradition brought to Portovenere by sea in 1204 inside a cedar trunk from Lebanon, is preserved in the church of San Lorenzo. The miraculous event was documented by a notary in the presence of numerous witnesses.

Procession and Boats at Sea

At sunset, decorated boats gather in front of the church of San Pietro and Byron's Grotto, while an evening procession winds through the illuminated ancient village. The festival, organized by the Pro Loco with the Municipality, combines the religious dimension with the unique spectacle of lights reflected on the water, in one of the most famous settings in the Gulf of Poets.