Feast of the Madonna del Granato

The most iconic celebration of Capaccio Paestum

The Feast of the Madonna del Granato is the event that, every August 15th, brings together the entire community of Capaccio Paestum, in the province of Salerno, in the heart of Campania. This is not a food festival or a performance; it is a nocturnal pilgrimage that winds on foot from the districts of the Piana del Sele up to the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Granato, perched at just over 240 meters on Monte Calpazio, where the ancient medieval town of Caputaquis once stood.

For the locals, this is the most important day of the year, far surpassing the beach-focused Ferragosto that enlivens the nearby coast. Emigrants return home, families reunite, and the climb to the sanctuary becomes a collective ritual that binds faith, memory, and local identity.

The 'cente': a hundred candles offered as a gift

The absolute symbol of the feast is the cente: lightweight wooden structures shaped like boats, covered in wax and decorated with multicolored ribbons, flowers, and the image of the Virgin. The name comes from the centinaio (hundred) of candles that compose them. Each district, each congregation, and often each family prepares their own centa in the days leading up to the event, using techniques passed down through generations. This collective construction is an integral part of the celebration and a key moment of community cohesion.

• Lightweight wooden boat-shaped structure, wax-coated
• A hundred lit candles, colorful ribbons, and floral arrangements
• The effigy of the Madonna del Granato at the center of the decoration
• Carried on shoulders along the path as a votive offering and act of gratitude

The night between August 14th and 15th

The heart of the devotion lies in the night between August 14th and 15th. In the early hours, groups of faithful—many walking barefoot as a vow—set off from the hamlets scattered across the municipal territory: Gromola, Capaccio Scalo, Rettifilo, Vuccolo Maiorano, Spinazzo, and Capaccio Capoluogo. Departures are staggered starting at 1:30 AM, and the processions gradually merge along the route, escorted by the local police, forming a single long torchlight procession that reaches the sanctuary before dawn.

In recent years, the municipality has reorganized the pilgrimage to ensure safety, gathering the congregations from the various districts into a single procession, providing assisted transport for the heavier cente, and offering a free shuttle service along the climb.

The Sanctuary on Monte Calpazio

The sanctuary holds a thousand-year history. The building began as a medieval cathedral with a three-nave layout, a triple-apsed transept, and a bell tower. It houses the 14th-century statue of the Virgin Enthroned with the Pomegranate—the granato that gives the devotion its name, symbolizing the abundance of divine grace through its open, seed-filled fruit. Today, the basilica is entrusted to the care of the Carmelite Fathers of the Ancient Observance, who maintain a hermitage there.

From the square, the view embraces the entire Piana del Sele, the Cilento coast, and, on clear days, the archaeological site of Paestum: one of the most beautiful panoramas in the province of Salerno, which alone justifies the climb even outside of festival days.

A full day of celebrations

With the arrival of the pilgrims, the sanctuary opens its long day of celebration. The first mass is held at dawn, around 5:00 AM, and services continue throughout the day until evening. The afternoon is marked by the recitation of the rosary and litanies, while a solemn procession takes place in the evening. The church remains open past midnight to welcome those arriving late or those wishing to fulfill their vows in silence.

An intangible heritage to be protected

The Municipality of Capaccio Paestum has initiated the process to include the cente in the IPIC (Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Campania), recognizing this devotional practice as a collective asset to be protected and promoted. This recognition would place the cente alongside other traditions already registered within the Union of Paestum Alto Cilento Municipalities, strengthening the municipality's cultural appeal alongside the temples of Paestum and the local buffalo mozzarella.

How to experience it as a visitor

Visitors are welcome to approach the feast with discretion; this is a deeply felt religious ritual, not a tourist spectacle. We recommend walking at least the final stretch on foot and stopping at the square at dawn, when the cente arrive at the summit and the Piana del Sele lights up behind the pilgrims.