Festa della Madonna delle Grazie

The festival that lasts four centuries

In Genzano di Lucania, a large agricultural village in the Alto Bradano region, in the province of Potenza, the Festa della Madonna delle Grazie is much more than a commemoration: it is the city's most important celebration, alive for over four hundred years. Its origins date back to March 25, 1621, when an image of the Virgin was found on a stone in the Vallone dei Greci area, after, according to tradition, a shepherd had received instructions in a dream about where to dig. The sanctuary was later built on the site of the discovery, where an out-of-season snowfall occurred.

Four August processions

Genzano's devotion is expressed in an elaborate and unique ritual: four processions spread throughout the month of August. The first is on the opening Sunday of the month, known as the Rovettiere or Castello procession; followed by the second Saturday, the second Sunday, and the second Monday of August. A 18th-century statue of the Madonna is carried in procession, while the original stone effigy remains in the main altar of the sanctuary, having been brought out only once, in 2021, for the fourth centenary.

A community identity

A calendar of civil celebrations revolves around the religious ceremonies, animating the historic center: musical bands, illuminations, concerts, food stalls with traditional Lucanian dishes, and the return of many emigrants. The Festa della Madonna delle Grazie is the time when Genzano di Lucania fully rediscovers its identity, between centuries-old faith and a people's festival.