Madonna del Tizzone Sanctuary Festival
The spring festival at the mountain sanctuary above Cravagliana, in Valsesia
About Madonna del Tizzone Festival
A mountain festival in the heart of Valsesia
The Madonna del Tizzone Sanctuary Festival is one of the most cherished events on the calendar in Cravagliana, a small mountain municipality in the Province of Vercelli, in upper Valsesia, northern Piedmont. Every year, on the third Sunday of May, residents and those with roots in these hamlets gather to honor the Madonna venerated in the sanctuary that overlooks the valley, in a blend of religious devotion and popular tradition passed down through generations.
The sanctuary and its legend
The sanctuary stands in an isolated and evocative position on a green plateau among the last trees reaching toward the sky, accessible on foot along a mule track starting from the road between Brugaro and Brugarolo. According to local legend, at the end of the 16th century, two mute shepherd children saw the Madonna appear before a raging fire; they ran to the village to raise the alarm and miraculously regained their speech. This episode gave rise to the cult and the construction of the sacred site, which houses a fresco depicting the Madonna holding the Child. The sanctuary is also known as the Sanctuary of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary.
A tradition that spans the year
The sanctuary celebrates two main occasions: the third Sunday of May and August 15th, the Feast of the Assumption, when the ancient custom of distributing bread is renewed. The May festival symbolically opens the summer season in the mountains and is organized by the Gruppo Sportivo Brugarolo, which also manages the convivial lunch that follows the celebrations.
Why it is worth the climb
More than just a major event, the Madonna del Tizzone Festival is an authentic mountain community experience: the walk up to the sanctuary, the silence of the plateau broken only by the sound of the stream, the mass, and then lunch together in Brugarolo. It is the perfect opportunity to discover a genuine, lesser-known side of Valsesia, far from the usual tourist circuits, among the hamlets of Cravagliana.
Madonna del Tizzone Festival — edition 2026
2026 Program
The Madonna del Tizzone Sanctuary Festival was held on Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Cravagliana, in upper Valsesia.
- Religious celebration at the Madonna del Tizzone Sanctuary, accessible on foot along the mule track from the surrounding green plateau.
- Community lunch in Brugarolo, following the mass, organized by the Gruppo Sportivo Brugarolo.
An event dedicated to folk tradition and conviviality, which brought together the inhabitants of the hamlets of Cravagliana and those who maintain a bond with this corner of the Piedmont mountains.
Programme Madonna del Tizzone Festival 2026
Sunday, May 17, 2026
- Religious celebration at the Madonna del Tizzone Sanctuary.
- Lunch in Brugarolo, after the mass, hosted by the Gruppo Sportivo Brugarolo.
Detailed times for the mass and lunch are announced locally in the days leading up to the festival.
Highlights Madonna del Tizzone Festival 2026
Prices Madonna del Tizzone Festival 2026
Practical information — Madonna del Tizzone Festival
Where it takes place
The celebrations are held at the Madonna del Tizzone Sanctuary, in a panoramic position above the hamlets of Brugaro and Brugarolo, in the municipality of Cravagliana (Province of Vercelli). The sanctuary can be reached on foot via a mule track: about a ten-minute walk from the carriage road between Brugaro and Brugarolo.
When
The festival traditionally takes place on the third Sunday of May. A second important occasion is August 15th, the Feast of the Assumption.
Lunch
At the end of the mass, a lunch is held in Brugarolo, organized by the Gruppo Sportivo Brugarolo.
How to get there
Cravagliana is located in upper Valsesia, along the provincial road that climbs the Mastallone river valley toward Fobello and Rimella. Comfortable shoes are recommended for the walk to the sanctuary.
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Where does it take place — Madonna del Tizzone Festival
Santuario della Madonna del Tizzone