Madonna di Regina Coeli Festival

A celebration of faith and community in the Voltigno

The Madonna di Regina Coeli Festival is the most anticipated event of the year in Villa Celiera, a small mountain village in the province of Pescara, Abruzzo. Nestled on the Voltigno plateau, at the southern slopes of the Gran Sasso massif, the entire community gathers every September around the venerated image of the Virgin. It is a celebration that weaves deep religious devotion with a vibrant secular festival, drawing thousands of people from neighboring towns and emigrants returning home for the occasion.

The countryside church and its legend

The spiritual heart of the festival is the Madonna Regina Coeli church, an ancient rural sanctuary whose origins date back to the early Middle Ages, with documentation starting from the 16th century. Inside, it houses a precious terracotta statue of the Virgin "Queen of Heaven," created in 1532 by sculptor Troiano de Giptiis of Castel del Monte and rediscovered during a 2010 restoration. A charming local legend tells that the Madonna, offended by the irreverent behavior of the inhabitants, left the town center to move to the open countryside, where the church dedicated to her was later built.

The religious program

The sacred part of the festival, organized by the San Giovanni Battista parish, traditionally takes place around September 8th, the feast of the Nativity of Mary. The program includes:

• Holy masses celebrated in the Regina Coeli church;
• the solemn procession with the image of the Madonna through the streets of the historic center;
• the characteristic evening candlelight procession, one of the most emotional and well-attended moments;
• opening celebratory fireworks in the morning and the brass band concert through the village streets.

The secular festival and major concerts

Alongside the religious dimension, the festival is famous for its free concerts in Piazza Nuova, which have brought nationally renowned artists to this small village: over the years, Nomadi (performing before over two thousand people), Amedeo Minghi, Matia Bazar, and Bobby Solo, among others, have taken the stage. There is no shortage of traditional games, food stalls featuring typical Abruzzese flavors, markets, and the traditional lottery with the final drawing of winning tickets. A fireworks display brings the festive evenings to a spectacular close.

Why attend

The Madonna di Regina Coeli Festival is an ideal opportunity to discover the authentic hospitality of the Abruzzo Apennine villages, immersed in the nature of the Voltigno and the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park. It is a rare mix of spirituality, tradition, music, and conviviality that represents the very identity of the Municipality of Villa Celiera.