Festival of Our Lady of the Mountain

A devotion as ancient as the sanctuary

In Salandra, a village in the province of Matera perched among the Lucanian hills, the Festival of Our Lady of the Mountain is the most anticipated religious event of the spring. The sanctuary housing the Virgin's effigy stands about 7 km from the town center, immersed in the woods along the road to the station: a very ancient chapel, whose origins date back to the year 1000, where the remains of Byzantine frescoes, discovered during restorations, can still be admired today.

The pilgrimage in the woods

The festival is celebrated on the last Sunday of May and culminates in a evocative foot pilgrimage from the church of San Rocco to the sanctuary, led by the parish priest and accompanied by the band, marked by moments of prayer along the way. The procession in the woods and the country festival attract devotees not only from Salandra but from many neighboring towns, in an atmosphere of deep Marian devotion.

Sacred and country festival

• Solemn Mass at the sanctuary with the participation of civil and military authorities;
• Procession of the effigy around the sanctuary;
• Traditional fireworks, band concert, and moments of prayer;
• Musical evening and fireworks display to conclude.

A place of the soul

Between the tranquility of the woods and the spirituality of the millennial chapel, the Festival of Our Lady of the Mountain combines faith, nature, and popular tradition. It is an opportunity to rediscover a hidden and evocative corner of the Matera region, where the community of Salandra renews its bond with the Virgin every year.