Madonna delle Grazie Festival

A festival of devotion in the Tuscia region of Viterbo

The Madonna delle Grazie Festival is one of the most cherished religious events for the community of Farnese, a small medieval village in the Tuscia area of Viterbo, in the far north of Lazio. The celebration takes place in the Bottino area, just outside the town center, around the Sanctuary dedicated to the Virgin of Grace, and attracts locals, returning emigrants, and worshippers from neighboring towns every year.

The event is traditionally held on the last Sunday of May, marking the end of the Marian month. On that day, life in the village revolves around the cult of the Madonna delle Grazie, in a blend of prayer, song, and conviviality that renews an ancient bond between the community and its countryside Sanctuary.

The rhythm of the day

The festival marks the entire day with a program that alternates between liturgical moments and community gatherings. Eucharistic celebrations are held both at the Sanctuary of the Madonna delle Grazie and in the parish church of the Most Holy Savior (SS. Salvatore), the religious heart of the village of Farnese.

• In the morning, Holy Mass at the Sanctuary opens the celebrations.
• In the late morning, a second Mass is celebrated in the parish church of SS. Salvatore, in the village.
• In the late afternoon, the solemn procession begins, accompanying the venerated image of the Virgin toward the Sanctuary in a parade of prayer and song.
• In the evening, Mass at the Sanctuary concludes the liturgical part of the festival.
• Upon the return of the procession, the sky over Bottino lights up with a fireworks display that seals the day.

Bottino and the Sanctuary

The Bottino area, nestled in the countryside surrounding Farnese, houses the small Marian Sanctuary around which the entire festival revolves. The procession connecting the village to the Sanctuary is the most intense and well-attended moment: carrying the image of the Madonna delle Grazie in procession means, for the people of Farnese, renewing a vow of devotion and a sense of belonging passed down from generation to generation.

Farnese, a village of the Tuscia

The festival is also an opportunity to discover Farnese, a village perched on a tuff spur at the gates of the Selva del Lamone Nature Reserve, one of the most extensive and pristine forests in Lazio. Not far from Lake Bolsena and a short distance from the border with Tuscany, the town preserves Etruscan roots and a medieval layout made of narrow alleys, tuff houses, and panoramic squares. The bond with the noble Farnese family and the charm of its territory—which also served as a set for Luigi Comencini's Pinocchio—make the village a fascinating destination for those visiting the upper Tuscia.

Participating in the Madonna delle Grazie Festival in Bottino means experiencing an authentic tradition of the Municipality of Farnese and the province of Viterbo, where Marian devotion remains a living element of the collective identity.