Festa della Madonnina del Mare

The sea festival of Zoagli

The Festa della Madonnina del Mare is the most characteristic summer event in Zoagli, a village on the Riviera di Levante in the province of Genoa, in the Gulf of Tigullio. It is celebrated on August 5th and dates back to 1985, when a group of diving enthusiasts created a commemoration for local seafarers.

The statue on the seabed

In 1996, a bronze statue of the Madonna, about 1.60 meters high, was placed on the seabed in front of the eastern promenade. Since then, on the day of the festival, a striking underwater procession reaches the statue to lay a wreath at its feet, in a ritual that combines popular devotion and love for the sea. In recent years, the stages of the dive have been broadcast live thanks to professional filming.

Fireworks, candles, and celebration

The day includes the Holy Mass on the beach, the placement of biodegradable soy wax candles on the water, the fireworks display, and the "Zoagli night dance party." There are also guided tours to the underwater statue for those who want to learn more about this unique memorial site.

Zoagli and the Tigullio

Zoagli is a small village overlooking the Tigullio, famous for its seaside promenades carved into the rock and for the ancient textile tradition of velvets and damasks. The Festa della Madonnina del Mare, with free admission, is the time when the community gathers around its connection to the sea, in a setting of rare beauty between Rapallo and Chiavari.