Madonna del Campo Festival

A centuries-old devotion

The Madonna del Campo Festival is the religious and cultural heart of Cave, a town in the Prenestini Mountains in the province of Rome, Lazio. Tradition holds that on April 27, 1655, during roadwork, an ancient crypt containing an image of the Virgin Mary was unearthed. In 1707, the Madonna del Campo Sanctuary was built over the site of the discovery; it remains a place of pilgrimage on the outskirts of the town, near the border with Genazzano.

The community's bond with its protector strengthened in 1837, when the people of Cave attributed their protection from the cholera epidemic sweeping through Rome to the Virgin's intercession. Since then, April 27th has been celebrated annually as a votive feast. In 1880, the Madonna del Campo was proclaimed co-patron of the city alongside Saint Lawrence.

The procession of the statue

The most poignant moment is the procession. On the eve of the feast, the statue of the Madonna del Campo, kept in her Sanctuary, is carried in a pageant to the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Assunta in the historic center, accompanied by the town's marching band, the choir, the Confraternity, and children dressed as angels. On the day of the feast, following the Solemn Mass, the statue returns to the Sanctuary amidst a sea of people, in an atmosphere of intense popular participation.

Traditions, games, and flavors

Beyond the religious dimension, the patronal feast of Cave has over time woven in numerous civic and popular initiatives that bring the town's streets and squares to life:

• the Golden Gnocchetto Competition, a gastronomic challenge dedicated to gnocchetti a sassetto, a typical local dish;
• a footrace through the town streets;
• traditional tournaments featuring ancient crossbows, archery, and community games;
• photography exhibitions, vintage car parades, and food stalls showcasing local products;
• live music and traditional fireworks to close the festivities.

A new heart for the Patron Saints

In recent years, the festival has taken on even greater symbolic value thanks to the new Santi Patroni Square, a space dedicated to the Madonna del Campo and Saint Lawrence, where the image of the patron saint has been placed and blessed. It is a sign of rebirth for a devotion that, bridging faith and identity, continues to bring together the entire community of Cave and the Prenestini Mountains every spring.