Festival of the Most Holy Piety (Lumineri)

A festival of light on Lake Maggiore

The Festival of the Most Holy Piety, known to all as the Lumineri Festival, is the most cherished spiritual and identity-defining event in Cannobio, an elegant village in the Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola overlooking Lake Maggiore, in Piedmont. Every year, on January 7th and 8th, the entire town transforms into a spectacle of light: balconies, windowsills, sidewalks, and stairs are illuminated by thousands of small flames, and on the lakefront, even the boats join this scene suspended between faith and poetry.

The Miracle of 1522

The festival commemorates an event that tradition dates back to the winter nights of January 1522. According to the story, in the home of the Zaccheo family, a small parchment painting depicting Christ in Piety began to bleed: drops of blood flowed from Christ's wounds, and a small rib appeared, proportional to the painted image. That relic, called the Sacred Rib, has since been kept in the Collegiate Church of San Vittore, inside a reliquary donated by Cardinal Federico Borromeo in the early 17th century.

The Sanctuary and Saint Charles Borromeo

On the site of the house where the miracle occurred, the Sanctuary of the Most Holy Piety was built, commissioned and supported by Saint Charles Borromeo, Archbishop of Milan, who recognized and promoted the cult. The sanctuary, overlooking the lake, still preserves the miraculous image and the blood-stained cloths today, and is a destination for pilgrims throughout the year.

The Lumineri Procession

The heart of the festival is the Lumineri procession: the Sacred Rib is brought down from the Collegiate Church of San Vittore (the so-called "Descent of the Sacred Rib") and carried in a procession to the Sanctuary, accompanied by the people and the light of candles. The following day, the relic returns in procession to the Collegiate Church with the "Ascent of the Sacred Rib." It is an ancient rite that unites religious devotion and a deep sense of belonging, drawing visitors to Cannobio from across the Verbano region and the nearby Canton Ticino.

Tradition and flavors

Alongside the religious dimension, the festival also retains a popular and convivial side: the traditional Luganighe Dinner, organized in Trafiume, gathers residents and guests around local dishes. The luganighe (local sausages) and the flavors of winter lakeside cuisine complete an experience that goes far beyond a simple celebration, revealing the most authentic soul of Cannobio.