Madonna delle Grazie Fair

A fair at the heart of Velletri's most beloved festival

The Madonna delle Grazie Fair is the commercial and popular event that has accompanied the most deeply felt religious festival in Velletri for centuries. Located in the Castelli Romani area within the Metropolitan City of Rome, the town celebrates on the first Sunday of May. As the solemnity of the Madonna delle Grazie is observed, the streets of the historic center around the Cathedral of San Clemente fill with stalls: the traditional market fair attracts vendors from all over the region and thousands of visitors.

A tradition dating back to 1613

The festival in honor of the Madonna delle Grazie, patron saint of Velletri, has roots in the 17th century: the first Procession of the Candles took place in May 1613. According to local chronicles, this is the supreme festival for the people of Velletri, surpassing all other city celebrations in solemnity and participation. During the 19th century, devotion was further strengthened when Cardinal Enrico Benedetto Stuart, Duke of York and Bishop of Ostia and Velletri, established the Feast of the Patronage after surviving the threat of an earthquake. The market fair, which began as a natural commercial corollary to the pilgrimage, is now regulated by the Municipality of Velletri, which publishes an annual call for applications for stall assignments.

The festival weekend

The program of festivities, organized by the Confraternity of Madonna delle Grazie together with the Diocese of Velletri-Segni and the Municipality, spans several days. On the Saturday preceding the first Sunday of May, the Sacred Image is displayed in the Cathedral in the morning, followed by celebrations led by the bishop. In the late afternoon, the Procession of the Candles begins—a river of faithful moving through the main street and the alleys of the historic center amidst Marian hymns and moving silence. On Sunday, while Masses are held from dawn until dusk, the fair occupies the streets around the Cathedral with its diverse stalls. The festival concludes on Monday with the traditional Feast of the Santarelle and the repositioning of the Sacred Image in the Sanctuary, where it remains throughout the year.

The street market

The fair is a classic Italian market event: clothing, household goods, handicrafts, sweets, and local products fill the stalls assigned through a municipal ranking system. Vendors interested in temporarily unoccupied spots can submit a request to the SUAP office of the Municipality of Velletri in the preceding weeks; assignments are made on the morning of the fair at 8:00 AM, based on the ranking of attendance from previous editions.

Why visit

• Experience one of the oldest religious festivals in the Lazio region, with over four centuries of history
• Witness the evocative Procession of the Candles on Saturday evening
• Stroll through the stalls in the historic center of Velletri, at the foot of the Alban Hills
• Discover the Cathedral of San Clemente and the city's heritage
• An ideal opportunity to combine a visit to the Castelli Romani with the local wines

Free admission: the fair takes place outdoors along the streets of the center and is a perfect occasion to discover the most authentic identity of Velletri and its community.