Madonna del Porto Festival

A maritime celebration of faith and tradition

The Madonna del Porto Festival is the most cherished summer event in San Vito Chietino, located in the province of Chieti, in the heart of the Costa dei Trabocchi in Abruzzo. The celebration takes place annually on the last Sunday of July in San Vito Marina, the town's coastal district, blending the religious devotion of the seafaring community with a lively multi-day public festival along the promenade.

The procession at sea

The heart of the festival is the spectacular sea procession. Before sunset, the local fishing boats, decorated with flags and illuminated with lights, gather at the San Vito pier. From there, the flotilla escorts the statue of the Madonna along the coast to the small harbor of Vallevò, before returning to the marina while sailing past the iconic trabocchi—the ancient fishing platforms suspended over the water that give this stretch of coastline its name. It is a deeply moving moment where popular faith intertwines with the town's maritime identity.

Stalls, music, and a white night

During the festival, the marina is transformed: the promenade fills with market stalls and street vendors, while the evening program offers concerts, musical performances, and dance events. In recent years, the festival has been complemented by a white night featuring DJ sets and orchestras along the coast, drawing numerous visitors from neighboring towns and the inland Frentano area.

Fireworks over the sea

The public festivities conclude at midnight with traditional fireworks, launched from the pier and the rocks so that they appear to erupt directly from the water. The pyrotechnic display, reflected on the sea, is a favorite spectacle for both locals and the tourists who flock to the coast in the height of summer.

An event on the Costa dei Trabocchi

The Madonna del Porto Festival is deeply rooted in the Santa Maria del Porto Parish and the maritime history of San Vito Chietino. Celebrated in a unique landscape of beaches, trabocchi, and the nearby Costa dei Trabocchi greenway, it is an opportunity to discover the authenticity of this corner of Abruzzo, where religious tradition and sea life continue to merge in a captivating collective celebration.