Madonna della Mercede Festival

A festival of devotion in the heart of the Marsica

The Madonna della Mercede Festival is one of the two major annual events in Collarmele, a small town in the Marsica region, in the province of L'Aquila, nestled at an altitude of approximately 835 metres in the Valle del Giovenco, on the edge of the Sirente-Velino Regional Park. Along with the patronal feast of Santa Felicita and the Seven Holy Brothers, celebrated in July, this late September event is a time when the entire village comes together to express its roots of faith, culture, and tradition.

Faith and folk tradition

Devotion to the Madonna della Mercede, whose liturgical feast falls on September 24th, has long been intertwined with the life of the Collarmele community. The festival combines the religious aspect—the Eucharistic celebration and the solemn procession of the sacred image through the streets of the historic centre—with the civil and popular side, featuring the convivial atmosphere typical of Abruzzo village festivals. These are days when the alleys come to life, families reunite, and the community, including those who have moved away, returns to gather around their customs.

The village of Collarmele

Collarmele preserves a historical and religious heritage of great interest. The town has roots in the Roman era, when the ancient Cerfennia, an important station along the Via Valeria, stood in this area. Among the most significant sites is the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, a 16th-century building linked to the Piccolomini family and known for the fine polychrome majolica tiles that adorn the upper part of its facade. The church of Santa Felicita, completed in 1940, stands as a testament to the town's reconstruction following the devastating 1915 Marsica earthquake.

An experience between nature and culture

• An authentic festival far from the main tourist circuits, ideal for those seeking the most genuine side of Abruzzo
• The natural setting of the Valle del Giovenco and the Sirente-Velino Regional Park
• Procession, religious rites, and moments of conviviality in the historic centre
• The opportunity to discover the village's artistic heritage, from the majolica of Santa Maria delle Grazie to the Roman memories of Cerfennia

The dates for the 2026 edition have not yet been officially announced: the festival is traditionally held around September 23rd and 24th. For the detailed programme, it is best to refer to the official channels of the Municipality of Collarmele and the local parish.