Festa della Madonna di Cortinica

A festival of devotion on Lake Iseo

The Festa della Madonna di Cortinica is the patronal festival of Tavernola Bergamasca, a municipality on the Bergamo side of Lake Iseo, in the Province of Bergamo. It is celebrated every year on July 2nd and is dedicated to the Madonna venerated in the sanctuary that overlooks the town from the hill.

The sanctuary and the vow against the plague

The Santuario della Madonna di Cortinica was built in 1630 to fulfill a vow: the community of Tavernola built it to thank the Madonna for saving them from the plague and from the numerous conflicts that had bloodied the territory, between the French and Milanese, Guelphs and Ghibellines. For almost four centuries, the sanctuary has been the spiritual heart of the town and a place of devotion.

The celebration and the band

The central moment of the festival is the religious celebration in honor of the patron saint. In the evening, at 8:00 PM, the traditional concert of the town's musical ensemble, the "Corpo Musicale Religio et Patria," takes place, accompanying the occasion with the music of the town band, in an atmosphere that combines recollection and community celebration.

Tavernola and the Sebino

Tavernola Bergamasca is a lakeside village in the Lower Sebino area, also known for its cement processing and its lakefront. The Festa della Madonna di Cortinica is one of the town's identity-defining events, capable of attracting residents, returning emigrants, and visitors to Lake Iseo.