Festival of Our Lady of Monserrato

The patronal feast of Val d'Agri

In Grumento Nova, a village in the province of Potenza overlooking the Val d'Agri, the Festival of Our Lady of Monserrato is the most important religious event of the year. The sanctuary is located about 6 km from the center, at the top of Monte Castello, where the statue of the Madonna spends the summer months before returning to the village for the winter.

The ascent and the 'centa'

The celebrations begin on Saturday evening with the evocative ascent to the Sacred Mount, immediately after the blessing of the 'centa', a votive offering covered in candles that the women of the village carry on their heads or in their hands along the path. It is one of the most intense and defining moments for the community of Grumento.

The procession of the halberdiers

On the last Sunday of August, after the religious celebration, the solemn procession begins, bringing the statue back to the village, accompanied by the faithful and the band, and escorted by the guild of halberdiers, the 'soldiers of the Madonna'. Alongside the religious dimension, the days are enlivened by illuminations, concerts, shows, and fireworks, with the participation of residents and emigrants who return for the occasion. Experiencing Grumento Nova during these days means discovering a village with a strong identity, custodian of the archaeological area of ancient Grumentum, at its most vibrant moment.