Festa della Madonna Bianca

The night of the candles

In Portovenere, a UNESCO World Heritage village in the province of La Spezia, the Festa della Madonna Bianca is the most cherished 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 illuminating the characteristic tower houses, the Doria castle, Byron's grotto, and the church of San Pietro overlooking the sea.

An ancient cult

The devotion to the Madonna Bianca dates back to a miracle in 1399: during a period of occupation, a parchment depicting the Madonna allegedly regained its color inexplicably. 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 (local tourism board) with the Municipality, combines religious devotion with the unique spectacle of lights reflected on the water, in one of the most famous settings of the Gulf of Poets.