Festa Patronale di Santa Maria Madre della Chiesa

The patron saint who unites Porto Viro

The Patronal Festival of Santa Maria Madre della Chiesa is the most identity-defining celebration of Porto Viro, a municipality in the Po Delta in the province of Rovigo. The date of October 11th is not accidental: it commemorates the unification of the municipalities of Contarina and Donada, which took place in 1995, giving rise to the current Porto Viro. The patron saint has thus also become a symbol of the union between the two historic communities.

The religious celebration

The heart of the festival is the solemn Holy Mass, hosted in the church of Santa Maria Madre della Chiesa in Scalon, accompanied by the united choir of all the local parishes and liturgical music. The celebration brings together the Christian community of Porto Viro with civil authorities and numerous local associations.

Music, band, and community

After the liturgy, the City Band performs pieces in honor of the patron saint, while a communal lunch concludes the day in an atmosphere of sharing and fraternity. There is also a lottery and opportunities for interaction that make this festival a community event, capable of intertwining faith, history, and the civil identity of Porto Viro.