Festival of the Madòna dei Pom

The Madonna of the Apples

The Sagra della Madòna dei Pom — the Madonna of the apples, in the Brescian dialect — is one of the most characteristic festivals of Paratico, a village overlooking the Brescian shore of Lake Iseo, in the province of Brescia. It is celebrated on the days of the Immaculate Conception, December 7th and 8th, intertwining religious devotion, popular tradition, and an ancient legend linked to apples: it is said that lovers used to exchange an apple as a token of love.

The Market and the Flavors of Winter

For the two days of the festival, the streets around the Sanctuary of San Pietro are filled with a market of about fifty stalls and food stands with the flavors of winter: chestnuts, bread and salami, mulled wine, hot tea, candied apples, and takeaway roast meat. For children, there are games, stilt walkers, bubble shows, puppet shows, an apple treasure hunt, and traditional games.

The Procession and Fireworks

The most solemn moment is the procession which, on the evening of December 7th, starts from the parish church and reaches the Sanctuary of San Pietro, accompanied by the band. After mass, the entertainment continues, and the evening concludes with a fireworks display. On December 8th, the day of the Immaculate Conception, the festival resumes in the morning along Via San Pietro.

A Living Tradition

Organized by the parish and the Municipality with local associations, the Madòna dei Pom is one of those festivals that preserve the identity of a town: it combines the faith of the Immaculate Conception, the flavors of Brescian cuisine, and a romantic legend that still gives the festival its name today. For those visiting Lake Iseo in December, it is an authentic immersion into the traditions of the Sebino region.