Madonna delle Grazie Festival (Madóna Neuva)

The patronal feast of Fresonara

The Madonna delle Grazie Festival, known in the local dialect as Madóna Neuva (the "New Madonna"), is the patronal feast of Fresonara, a small village in the Province of Alessandria nestled in the hills of the Alto Monferrato, in Piedmont. The event is celebrated annually on the third Sunday of June and stands as one of the most cherished moments for the community, drawing families, former residents, and visitors from the surrounding Novese area.

Faith and devotion

The religious heart of the festival is the solemn mass celebrated in the morning, followed by the traditional procession with the statue of the Madonna, which winds through the streets of the historic center. Fresonara's devotion is anchored in the Oratory of San Rocco, a small church built in the first half of the 17th century, featuring a gabled facade adorned with a fresco depicting the Madonna and Child between Saint Roch and Saint Sebastian. Beside it, the parish church dedicated to the Nativity of Mary preserves the town's spiritual heritage.

Tradition and community

The Madóna Neuva is more than just a liturgical appointment: it is the town's festival. On this occasion, an exhibition of local products and crafts is set up at the Municipal Theater hall, showcasing local excellence and the community's ingenuity. The day concludes with the traditional free evening dance at the Sports Field, a moment of music and socializing that has united generations of young and old alike.

Fresonara and the Alto Monferrato

Fresonara is a small municipality in the Province of Alessandria, Piedmont, located on the plains that slope down toward the hills of the Monferrato and the Novese area. Its traditional festivals, marked by the religious and agricultural calendar, tell the story of a territory where popular faith and community life remain deeply intertwined. The Madonna delle Grazie festival is, in this sense, the occasion that best captures the spirit of the town.

An event to experience

Participating in the Madóna Neuva means discovering the authenticity of the Piedmontese province: an intimate festival, far from mass tourism, where the hospitality is that of a genuine small town. Those visiting Fresonara for this occasion can combine the festivities with the discovery of typical Monferrato products and the surrounding villages of the Alessandria area.