Madonna di Filetta Festival

The patronal feast of Amatrice

The Madonna di Filetta Festival is the most cherished patronal celebration in Amatrice, located in the northern Lazio region, province of Rieti. Every May, the community gathers around its protector with an intense calendar of religious services and secular festivities, drawing back many locals who have moved across Italy but remain deeply tied to their roots.

The origins: the 1472 cameo

The devotion dates back to 1472: tradition holds that the shepherdess Chiarina Valente found a small cameo depicting the Virgin in the Filetta area, which was immediately venerated by the population. This discovery gave rise to the cult of the Madonna di Filetta, the city's patron saint, and the construction of the Sanctuary of Filetta, the destination of the annual procession, which has guarded the memory of this event for over five centuries.

The religious program

The celebrations open with the arrival of the Bishop of Rieti, who pays tribute to the earthquake memorial at Parco Minozzi and presides over Holy Mass at the Auditorium della Laga, accompanied by choirs from Amatrice and Accumoli. The following days feature Masses and the Rosary at the Church of Sant'Agostino, leading up to the solemn Sunday, the heart of the festival.

The procession to the Sanctuary of Filetta

The most anticipated moment is the procession that, following the morning solemn Mass, winds from the center of Amatrice to the Sanctuary of Filetta, accompanied by the Banda Città dell'Amatrice and the Sant'Antonio di Castiglioni Gunner Group. At the sanctuary, Mass and the Rosary are celebrated before the return to town with a solemn procession and an act of consecration to the Virgin. Traditionally, the reliquary is entrusted to the residents of the local hamlets, renewing a pact of faith that unites the entire community.

Secular festivities

Alongside the religious dimension, the Festivities Committee, in collaboration with the Municipality of Amatrice and local associations, organizes a rich secular program: brass band concerts, dance evenings with orchestras and DJ sets, a food village, children's workshops, sports activities, and charity events. Naturally, there is no shortage of opportunities to enjoy traditional dishes, starting with the world-famous spaghetti all'amatriciana, the town's culinary symbol.

Amatrice and the Monti della Laga

Nestled between the Monti della Laga and the Rieti basin, on the borders of Abruzzo, Marche, and Umbria, Amatrice is a village deeply marked by the 2016 earthquake but tenaciously linked to its traditions. Today, the Madonna di Filetta Festival represents much more than a religious recurrence: it is a sign of rebirth and belonging, which every year brings the community together around its history and faith.