Festa in onore della Madonna della Neve

A festival of popular devotion in the heart of the Sibillini

The Festa in onore della Madonna della Neve is one of the most heartfelt events in the calendar of Monte Rinaldo, a municipality in the province of Fermo in the Marche region. It is celebrated in Contrada Cuma, a rural hamlet of the village, at the church dedicated to the Madonna della Neve, in a hilly landscape overlooking the Aso valley and the Sibillini Mountains.

Historical roots

The devotion dates back to 1693, when the local farming community began to turn to the Virgin to obtain protection against hail and atmospheric calamities that put harvests at risk. The festival thus originated as a thanksgiving and a popular vow, a tradition that has been passed down from generation to generation, becoming part of the identity of the contrada and the entire Municipality.

The evening of celebration

The event takes place over a single evening, starting in the early evening and continuing into the night. The religious moment, linked to the figure of the Madonna della Neve, is accompanied by the convivial dimension typical of Marche contrada festivals:

• moment of prayer and reflection at the church of the Madonna della Neve;
• food stalls with local traditional peasant dishes;
• music and dancing in the square;
• an occasion for the community and visitors to the area to meet.

Monte Rinaldo and the Aso Valley

A village of a few hundred inhabitants, Monte Rinaldo is also known for the archaeological area of La Cuma, a late Republican sanctuary that testifies to the ancient settlements in this corner of the Monti Azzurri. The Festa della Madonna della Neve is the ideal opportunity to discover an authentic territory, far from mass tourist circuits, where popular faith and rural hospitality retain a flavour of yesteryear.

Useful information

The festival is organized by the Municipality of Monte Rinaldo and is open to all citizens with free admission. For updated information, it is advisable to consult the official channels of the Municipality.