Madonna di Pietraquaria Festival

The festival of the people of Avezzano

The Madonna di Pietraquaria Festival is the most important religious and popular event in Avezzano, a city in the Province of L'Aquila in the heart of the Marsica region, Abruzzo. Celebrated annually on April 26th and 27th, the festival honors the Virgin of Pietraquaria, the city's patron saint, whose Sanctuary stands on the slopes of Monte Salviano, overlooking the Fucino plain. It is a deeply felt occasion that brings the entire Marsican community together through devotion, historical memory, and ancient fire rituals.

Legend and origins

Devotion to the Madonna di Pietraquaria dates back to the early centuries of the modern era. According to tradition, the festival specifically commemorates April 27, 1779, when a solemn procession is said to have ended a terrible drought that plagued the territory; since then, the Virgin has been invoked as a protector against famine and a bringer of rain. Another legend tells of a dispute over the sacred image between Avezzano and the nearby town of Cese: the people of Avezzano lit large fires along the mountainside to call the miraculous icon back to them, giving rise to the tradition of the focaracci.

The focaracci and the torchlight relay

The evening of April 26th marks the most identity-defining heart of the festival. Mass is celebrated at the Sanctuary, followed by the lighting of the blessed torch and the start of the Focaraccio Torchlight Relay Race, which reached its 15th edition in 2026: runners traverse the city, visiting the main parishes and carrying the sacred fire. As night falls, the focaracci—large bonfires set up in various neighborhoods—are lit, around which the community gathers to sing in honor of the Madonna, in a night that illuminates all of Avezzano.

The solemn procession

April 27th is the day of the main celebration. In the morning, the statue of the Virgin descends from the Sanctuary along the Via Crucis of Monte Salviano and is welcomed by city delegations. The solemn procession departs from Via Napoli and travels through the main streets of the center—Via Roma, Piazza Torlonia, Via XX Settembre, Via Garibaldi, Via Corradini, Via Marconi—until it reaches the Cathedral of the Marsi, where the pontifical mass presided over by the Bishop of Avezzano is celebrated.

Music, illuminations, and fireworks

The day is enriched by elegant city illuminations and the music of brass bands, including the Banda di Castelnuovo. The celebrations conclude in the evening with a performance by the State Police Fanfare and traditional fireworks, which bid farewell to the patron saint and officially close the festival. It is an event that unites spirituality, folklore, and a sense of belonging, serving as a guardian of one of the most deeply rooted intangible traditions of Abruzzo.