Festivities in Honor of Maria Santissima di Loreto
The patronal feast of Fontana Liri featuring torchlight processions, music, and Marian devotion
About Madonna di Loreto Festival
A centuries-old devotion in the Liri Valley
The Festivities in Honor of Maria Santissima di Loreto are the most cherished event of the year in Fontana Liri, a town in the province of Frosinone, nestled in the heart of the Ciociaria region in Lazio. Every summer, the town pauses to gather around its patron saint in a celebration that blends popular faith, collective memory, and social life.
The roots of this devotion are ancient: the sanctuary housing the venerated image is located in the Valle Curzio area, near the Rio Armucci, and was established in 1565 as a small chapel dedicated to the Virgin of Graces. It became a Marian sanctuary in 1698 following reports of miraculous events. The statue of the Virgin carried in procession today dates back to 1842 and remains the symbolic heart of the celebrations.
The torchlight procession: the most anticipated moment
The defining moment of the festival is the night-time torchlight procession on the eve of the main feast. Three distinct parades set off from different parts of the territory—from the Aia Comune area towards Arpino, and from Fontana Liri Inferiore and Superiore—making their way through the darkness of olive groves and country lanes. The three lines of light gradually converge into one grand, moving procession that reaches the sanctuary under the starry sky: a sight that leaves a lasting impression on all who witness it.
On the following Saturday, the statue is carried on shoulders in a procession to the town, accompanied by brass bands, hymns, and prayers, and welcomed into the baroque parish church. The return of the image to the sanctuary in early August marks the conclusion of the celebrations.
The secular program: music, games, and community
Alongside the liturgical calendar, the festival committee organizes a rich secular program held almost entirely in Piazza G. Marconi. Evenings feature concerts by local folk groups and bands, entertainment for children, gastronomic events with pizza in the square, open-air card tournaments, and the traditional lottery draw.
- Processions — the night-time torchlight parade and the solemn Saturday procession with a brass band
- Evening concerts — folk music, accordion performances, and local bands in the square
- Emigrant's Day — an event dedicated to the people of Fontana Liri living abroad who return for the feast
- Family evenings — entertainment for children, games, and dinner in the square
- Lottery and fireworks — prize draws and closing performances
The setting: Fontana Liri and the Ciociaria
Fontana Liri is a small town nestled among the hills sloping down toward the Liri River, an area known for its olive groves, its historic military factory, and for being the birthplace of Marcello Mastroianni. For the community, the festival is more than just an event; it is a time for homecoming, family reunions, and a proud display of local identity.
For visitors traveling through Ciociaria in summer, attending this festival offers a glimpse into a vibrant popular religiosity and a community tradition that has been renewed for over three centuries. The celebrations are organized by the S. Stefano Protomartire Parish in collaboration with the Municipality of Fontana Liri, with the support of the Lazio Region.
When to go
The peak period runs from the torchlight procession in mid-July until the first days of August, when the image returns to the sanctuary. Those wishing to experience the heart of the festival should aim for the central weekend, which features the solemn procession and the main musical events in the square.
Madonna di Loreto Festival — edition 2026
2026 Edition
The 2026 celebrations of Maria Santissima di Loreto in Fontana Liri (Frosinone province, Lazio) open with the Marian month at the sanctuary, with daily masses at 7:30 AM and festive masses at 9:00 AM until July 17. The solemn part begins on the evening of July 17 with the torchlight procession, starting at 9:15 PM from three different points in the territory — Piazza Trento, Aia Comune, and Piazza G. Marconi — to merge into a single parade.
Saturday, July 18 is the central day: at 10:00 AM, the solemn mass presided over by Bishop Gerardo Antonazzo, followed by the solemn procession accompanied by the Città di Arpino brass band. The Emigrant's Day on July 19, with masses at the church of San Rocco, is dedicated to the people of Fontana Liri returning to the town for the feast.
For the Jubilee Year, an extraordinary pilgrimage of the statue of the Madonna di Loreto to the churches of Santa Barbara and San Paolo is planned. On Friday, August 1, at 7:30 PM, the procession for San Paolo will cross Via Pola with a short detour towards Via Gorizia, near Piazza Padre Pio, for a blessing. On August 2, the final masses and the solemn procession will return the sacred image to the sanctuary.
The celebrations are promoted by the S. Stefano Protomartire Parish with the Municipality of Fontana Liri and the support of the Lazio Region.
Programme Madonna di Loreto Festival 2026
Religious celebrations
- Until July 17 — Marian month at the sanctuary: daily masses at 7:30 AM, festive at 9:00 AM
- Friday, July 17, 9:15 PM — Torchlight procession starting from Piazza Trento, Aia Comune, and Piazza G. Marconi
- Saturday, July 18, 10:00 AM — Solemn mass presided over by H.E. Bishop Gerardo Antonazzo, followed by a solemn procession with the Città di Arpino band
- Sunday, July 19 — Emigrant's Day, masses at the church of San Rocco
- Friday, August 1, 7:30 PM — Procession for San Paolo along Via Pola, with a detour in Via Gorizia (Piazza Padre Pio) for the blessing
- Sunday, August 2 — Final masses and solemn procession returning the sacred image to the sanctuary
- Jubilee Year — Pilgrimage of the statue of the Madonna di Loreto to the churches of Santa Barbara and San Paolo
Secular festivities — Piazza G. Marconi
- Saturday, July 18, 8:00 AM — Parade through the town streets by the Città di Arpino band
- Saturday, July 18, 9:30 PM — Concert by world champion accordionists I Fratelli Scacchia
- Sunday, July 19, 9:30 PM — Concert by MBL with the Saltaran Tour
- Wednesday, July 22, 8:00 PM — Children's entertainment and pizza in the square with live music
- Friday, July 24, 8:00 PM — Briscola card tournament under the stars
- Friday, July 31 and Saturday, August 1, 8:00 PM — Evenings in collaboration with local artists from Fontanarte
- Saturday, August 1, 11:59 PM — Lottery draw
Highlights Madonna di Loreto Festival 2026
- The torchlight procession on July 17: three parades starting from different points and merging into a single river of light among the olive groves
- The solemn mass on July 18 presided over by Bishop Gerardo Antonazzo and the procession with the Città di Arpino band
- The concert by the Fratelli Scacchia, world champion accordionists
- The concert by the MBL with the Saltaran Tour
- The Jubilee pilgrimage of the statue to the churches of Santa Barbara and San Paolo
- Emigrant's Day, reuniting the people of Fontana Liri scattered around the world
Prices Madonna di Loreto Festival 2026
Practical information — Madonna di Loreto Festival
Getting there
By car: take the Ceprano or Frosinone exit on the A1 motorway, then follow provincial roads toward Isola del Liri and Fontana Liri (approx. 30 minutes). By train: Fontana Liri station on the Roccasecca-Avezzano line, or Frosinone station with a connecting bus.
Location
Religious celebrations take place at the Sanctuary of the Madonna di Loreto (Valle Curzio area) and the parish church; secular events are held in Piazza G. Marconi, Fontana Liri.
Admission
Participation in processions and events in the square is free. Some gastronomic evenings require payment for food and drinks.
Tips
For the night-time torchlight procession, comfortable footwear is recommended as the route follows country paths and dirt roads. Summer evenings in the hills can be cool, so bringing a light jacket is advisable.
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Where does it take place — Madonna di Loreto Festival
Santuario della Madonna di Loreto e Piazza G. Marconi