Madonna dei Cordici Festival
The dual Marian feast of Torraca, between the miracle of March 3rd and the solemnity of September 8th
About Madonna dei Cordici
A devotion spanning the centuries
In Torraca, a small municipality in the Province of Salerno perched at an altitude of 425 meters in southern Cilento, the Madonna dei Cordici Festival is not just one event: it is two. The town's devotional calendar features celebrations on March 3rd and September 8th, dates around which the community life of one of Campania's most scenic villages—overlooking the Gulf of Policastro just a few kilometers from Sapri—has revolved for centuries.
Written records of the place of worship date back to at least 1626, when sources mention a Santa Maria de Corticibus where mass was held for the faithful. Popular tradition, however, tells of a wooden statue of the Virgin found on an oak tree in the Còrdici locality: hence the name given to the sanctuary, the Madonna, and the festival.
1656 and the proclamation as Protectress
In 1656, while the plague ravaged the Kingdom of Naples, the community of Torraca entrusted itself to the Madonna dei Cordici. On July 30th of that year, they formally consecrated themselves to her perpetual protection, recognizing her as co-patroness of the town and a shield against the contagion. This act forged the unbroken bond between the village and its sanctuary, and it is the 370 years since that date that give meaning to the 2026 Parish Jubilee.
The miracle of March 3, 1799
The early March festival commemorates a specific event: on March 3, 1799, as French troops approached, the population gathered in prayer before the Marian image. Legend speaks of a thick fog that enveloped Torraca, hiding it from the soldiers' sight, causing them to change their path. Since then, that date has been observed as the town's collective thanksgiving: morning mass, a procession to the sanctuary, and folk songs dedicated to the Virgin.
September 8th, the great end-of-summer feast
The September recurrence coincides with the Nativity of Mary and is the most solemn. It is traditionally preceded by a morning novena during the last days of August and early September, and includes a procession of the statue to its chapel with a brass band and votive offerings carried by the faithful, followed by Eucharistic celebration and the return to the village. In 1935, the Marian statue received a solemn coronation by the Vatican Chapter, a milestone remembered with particular emphasis during the 2025 edition, which marked its 90th anniversary.
The Maria SS. dei Cordici Sanctuary
The sanctuary stands a few kilometers from the town in a panoramic position overlooking the bay of Sapri, originating from an ancient rock-hewn church. On January 25, 2021, the Bishop of the Diocese of Teggiano-Policastro elevated it to a diocesan sanctuary by episcopal decree. However, in February 2026, a landslide affected the square and the access road, causing the ground to sink by about two meters over an area of approximately 2,500 square meters. The building was closed for safety reasons, and celebrations were moved to the parish church of San Pietro Apostolo, while the procession now reaches the Marian effigy placed before the damaged section.
The 2026 Parish Jubilee
2026 is a special year for the community: from May 31st to September 13th, the parish is celebrating a Parish Jubilee with the motto Sub tuum praesidium, marking 370 years since the recognition of the Madonna dei Cordici as celestial Protectress (1656) and 250 years since the proclamation of Saint Peter the Apostle as patron of Torraca (1776). The calendar was presented on March 3rd, at the end of the evening mass presided over by Bishop Antonio De Luca.
Torraca, the village and its territory
Torraca is a labyrinth of terraces, courtyards, and uphill alleys, originally built as a refuge for coastal populations fleeing pirate raids; the Lucanian tombs found in the area testify to settlements dating back to the 4th century BC. The town is also known for being the first European municipality entirely illuminated with LED technology. Visitors arriving for the festival will find, beyond the rituals, a compact and well-kept village, views of the Gulf of Policastro, and Cilento cuisine at the parish stands.
Organizers
The celebrations are organized by the San Pietro Apostolo Parish together with the festival committee, with the support of the Municipality of Torraca, the Pro Loco, and the cultural association "Per il Santuario dei Cordici," founded in 2019 and dedicated to fundraising for the sanctuary's recovery and the restoration of the statues through food stands, devotional gadgets, and donation boxes in homes.
Madonna dei Cordici — edition 2026
A Jubilee year for Torraca
2026 links the double festival of the Madonna dei Cordici to a double anniversary: 370 years since the consecration of the town to the Virgin of the Cordici (1656) and 250 years since the proclamation of Saint Peter the Apostle as patron saint (1776). Hence the Parish Jubilee Sub tuum praesidium, opened on May 31st and set to conclude on September 13th.
Celebrations between emergency and devotion
The landslide that caused the sanctuary's square to sink by about two meters in February 2026 forced a revision of the routes: the March 3rd procession stopped at the Marian effigy along the provincial road, and masses are being held in the church of San Pietro Apostolo. The Campania Region and the Municipality have set up a technical committee to secure the area.
What to expect in September
The September 8th recurrence ideally closes the Jubilee year, with the novena, the procession, and traditional Marian rites. The detailed program has not yet been released by the parish and the festival committee.
Programme Madonna dei Cordici 2026
Tuesday, March 3, 2026, Feast of the Miracle
- 9:00 AM: Holy Mass
- Followed by: Procession along the provincial road to the effigy of the Madonna dei Cordici, on an alternative route as the landslide made access to the sanctuary inaccessible
- 6:00 PM: Holy Mass presided over by Bishop Antonio De Luca, Bishop of Teggiano-Policastro
- At the end: Official presentation of the Parish Jubilee «Sub tuum praesidium»
Sunday, May 31, 2026, Opening of the Parish Jubilee
- 5:30 PM: Parade through the town streets and concert by the «E. Magliano» brass band of San Giovanni a Piro
- 6:30 PM: Reception of the ancient restored statue of Saint Peter at the Chapel of Saint Anthony of Padua and blessing
- 6:45 PM: Start of the procession towards the Baronial Castle
- 7:00 PM: Eucharistic celebration presided over by the parish priest Father Francesco Alpino, with public reading of the decree of May 26, 1776, which proclaimed Saint Peter as patron of Torraca
- At the end: Procession towards Borgo Spadarea and the Fontana Nuova, followed by a fireworks display
June 28 and 29, 2026, Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul
- June 28: Jubilee of the Elderly, with mass and buffet dedicated to those over 70
- Monday, June 29: Patronal solemnity with a procession through the town streets of the statues of Saints Peter and Paul, the Madonna dei Cordici, and Saint Anthony of Padua
- During the festival days: Jubilee Festival, with Pro Loco stands and proceeds destined for the recovery of the sanctuary square
September 2026, September festival and closing of the Jubilee
- The Marian festival of September 8th, traditionally preceded by the morning novena in late August, takes place within the framework of the Parish Jubilee which closes on September 13th
- The detailed program for the September days has not yet been published by the parish and the festival committee: it will be released in the coming weeks
Highlights Madonna dei Cordici 2026
- Parish Jubilee «Sub tuum praesidium», from May 31 to September 13, 2026
- 370 years since the consecration of Torraca to the Madonna dei Cordici, Protectress against plagues (1656)
- 250 years since the proclamation of Saint Peter the Apostle as patron of the town (1776)
- The return of the ancient restored statue of Saint Peter, on May 31, with the «E. Magliano» band of San Giovanni a Piro
- The March 3rd procession to the Marian effigy, with the sanctuary closed due to the landslide
- Mass presided over by Bishop Antonio De Luca
- The Jubilee Festival and fireworks displays accompanying the processions
Prices Madonna dei Cordici 2026
Practical information — Madonna dei Cordici
How to get there
Torraca is located in southern Cilento, in the Province of Salerno, on a ridge overlooking the Gulf of Policastro. By train, the reference station is Sapri, on the Tyrrhenian line: from there, continue by bus or taxi to the village. By car, drive up from the coast along the SS18 Tirrena Inferiore road to the 425-meter altitude of the historic center. The town is small: it is best to leave the car in the parking lots at the entrance of the village and continue on foot.
Where celebrations take place
Following the landslide in February 2026, the Maria SS. dei Cordici Sanctuary and the road leading to it are inaccessible. Rituals, the novena, and masses are held in the parish church of San Pietro Apostolo, while the procession reaches the Madonna's effigy placed before the damaged stretch. Before departing, it is advisable to check with the parish to see if the sanctuary has since reopened.
Costs and contacts
All celebrations are free. For information: Municipality of Torraca, tel. +39 0973 398127; Pro Loco of Torraca; San Pietro Apostolo Parish. The program is released in the days leading up to the event on the parish and municipal channels.
Tips
The village is entirely uphill, with alleys and staircases: comfortable shoes are recommended. For accommodation, visitors usually stay on the coast, between Sapri, Policastro Bussentino, and Marina di Camerota. In the evening, the town's LED lighting and the view over the gulf are worth the climb alone.
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Where does it take place — Madonna dei Cordici
Santuario Maria SS. dei Cordici e chiesa parrocchiale di San Pietro Apostolo