Madonna dell'Altomare Festival

A maritime festival in the heart of Salento

The Madonna dell'Altomare Festival is one of the most heartfelt devotional events in Otranto, in the province of Lecce, in the easternmost part of Puglia. Every year, on the first Sunday of September, the city overlooking the Adriatic gathers around the small Chapel of the Madonna dell'Altomare, perched on a tuff spur in the Punta area, overlooking the sea. It is here that sailors, fishermen, and citizens renew a devotion that intertwines faith, history, and life at the port.

The chapel and the legend

The origins of the cult date back to the 17th century; the chapel, destroyed over time, was rebuilt in 1744. According to tradition, the Virgin was chosen as the protector of Otranto's sailors and fishermen, offering them shelter during fishing trips and in moments of danger on the open sea. Legend also links the sacred image to the dramatic events of the Ottoman siege of 1480, when Otranto paid for its loyalty with martyrdom. Inside, the mosaic floor with the star and the Savoy knots, along with the seahorse and seashell-shaped chandeliers, tell the story of the place's maritime soul.

The religious program

The festivities open with a three-day preparation period at the Parish Church of Maria SS. Immacolata, featuring the rosary, holy masses, and the chapel remaining open to the faithful until late evening. On the day of the festival, morning masses are celebrated, followed in the afternoon by the solemn Eucharistic celebration presided over by the Archbishop on the chapel square. The most moving moment is the sea procession: the statue of the Madonna is placed on a boat and travels across the port's waters, accompanied by civil and military authorities and maritime associations. A laurel wreath is cast into the sea in memory of those who lost their lives among the waves.

The civil program

Alongside the religious dimension, the festival offers a rich calendar of events:

• Brass band concerts featuring a renowned lyrical-symphonic repertoire, with morning and evening concerts in the square;
• the 'Trofeo Don Luigi Mariano' sailing regatta, a competition organized in the port waters with the Otranto section of the Italian Naval League;
• live Salento folk music performances during the festival evenings;
• the 'Luci sul Mare' fireworks display, a grand finale that lights up the sky and the sea of Otranto.

Faith, sea, and community

The festival celebrates not only the Madonna but also those who dedicate themselves to safety and peace at sea, and those who derive their livelihood from fishing and trade. Through the collaboration between the Parish, the City of Otranto, the Italian Sailors' Association, the Naval League, and the port fishermen, the Madonna dell'Altomare remains the symbol of an ancient and living bond between Otranto and its Adriatic Sea.