Madonna della Neve Festival - Monchezzola

An Alpine festival in the heart of Valsesia

The Madonna della Neve Festival is one of the most cherished summer events in Serravalle Sesia, a town in the province of Vercelli nestled at the entrance to the Valsesia valley in Piedmont. The celebration takes place in Monchezzola, a secluded spot surrounded by greenery where a small chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary stands. It is here that every year, at the beginning of August, the Serravalle Sesia Alpini Group gathers to renew a tradition passed down through generations.

The Alpini and Monchezzola

The bond between the local 'Penne Nere' and Monchezzola is deep: the group has effectively 'adopted' this corner of the mountains, building a refuge and maintaining the access road and bridge that lead to the chapel. The association, which celebrated its centenary in 2025, proudly guards these summer gatherings for the Madonna della Neve, considering them among their most significant identity-defining activities.

Devotion to Our Lady of the Snows

The festival is linked to the liturgical feast of Our Lady of the Snows, celebrated on August 5th in memory of the legend of a summer snowfall on the Esquiline Hill in Rome, which led to the founding of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major. Throughout the Alps, this Marian devotion has inspired numerous mountain chapels and sanctuaries, serving as destinations for pilgrimages and summer gatherings: Monchezzola is one of these small treasures of Valsesian popular faith.

A day of faith and community

The festival day follows the typical ritual of Alpine celebrations: participants gather for a solemn mass at the chapel, followed by moments of reflection and a shared meal at the refuge—an occasion for conviviality among Alpini, families, and hikers. It is an authentic festival, far from mass tourism, where community spirit, the bond with the mountains, and the memory of local traditions take center stage.

Experiencing the festival in Serravalle Sesia

Attending the Madonna della Neve Festival means discovering an intimate side of Valsesia, made of trails, forests, and small places of worship. The festival is part of a summer full of events in Serravalle Sesia—from the Alpine festival in early July to the various fairs and gatherings that animate the Vercelli town—and represents a perfect opportunity for those seeking a genuine experience of faith, nature, and Piedmontese hospitality.