Madonna delle Grazie Festival

A celebration of faith and community in Scanno

The Madonna delle Grazie Festival is one of the most deeply rooted religious traditions in Scanno, a stunning village in the Province of L'Aquila, Abruzzo, nestled in the mountains of the Sagittario Valley. Celebrated every year on the first Sunday of July, it represents much more than a simple liturgical appointment: it is a moment of community that spans generations, bringing the entire town together around its identity and history.

The procession and the statue of the Virgin

The heart of the festival is the procession of the statue of the Madonna delle Grazie, carried through the village streets by confreres and bearers, accompanied by the band and a large popular turnout. In the days leading up to the celebration, the community prepares with the Holy Rosary and daily Masses, culminating in the solemn Holy Mass and the procession, a moment that is both spiritual and defining for the people of Scanno.

The Church of Madonna delle Grazie

The festival is tied to the Church of Madonna delle Grazie, an 18th-century building with a distinctive octagonal floor plan—a rarity in Abruzzo—which takes its name from the confraternity of the same name, active in the town since the 16th century. Marian devotion is deeply embedded in Scanno's religious history, where the Santa Maria delle Grazie Confraternity collaborates with the Santa Maria della Valle Parish, the village's mother church, which dates back at least to the 12th century.

The return of the statue after restoration

The festival has gained even greater significance following the long restoration of the church. Damaged and closed after seismic events, the building was reopened for worship in 2025, after approximately sixteen years of work overseen by the Ministry of Culture through the Regional Secretariat for Abruzzo. The ancient statue of the Madonna has thus returned to its original home, welcomed in procession amidst the ringing of bells and the notes of the band, restoring a long-awaited place of worship to the community.

Between the sacred and village festivities

Alongside the religious dimension, the festival also comes alive with moments of social gathering, featuring music and entertainment in Piazza Santa Maria della Valle and the traditional final raffle. It is the perfect opportunity to rediscover one of the most beautiful and photographed villages in Abruzzo, famous for the traditional costumes of the local women and the timeless atmosphere of its stone-paved streets.