Madonnelle and Christograms

A night walk discovering the sacred symbols of Velletri

Madonnelle and Christograms is a summer event that invites you to rediscover Velletri from a unique perspective: an evening walk through the alleys and squares of the historic center, searching for the religious symbols that have adorned the city's walls for centuries. Launched in 2025 and reaching its second edition in 2026, the walk is curated by the Pro Loco Velitrae in collaboration with the Municipality of Velletri and the Civic Museums, and is part of the rich "Summer with Pro Loco Velitrae" program.

Madonnelle and Christograms: what they are

The madonnelle are small Marian shrines—niches, frescoes, majolica tiles, and sacred images—placed on street corners and house facades, representing a popular devotion that has accompanied the daily life of the town for generations. The christograms are the monograms of Christ carved into the ancient doorways of homes: symbolic signs that, according to local scholars, form a true spiritual portrait of the Velletri community. The walk tells their story one by one, guided by art historians, restoring the value of collective memory to these often-overlooked details.

The first edition in 2025

The inaugural edition took place on the evening of July 18, 2025, departing at 8:30 PM from Piazza Garibaldi. The route wound through the narrow streets of the medieval town, accompanied by insights from local art historian Sara Di Luzio and enriched by Dante-themed readings by Professor Giorgio Battistella, who recited the first canto of Purgatory. The evening concluded at the Stimmate Area with a convivial toast and a tasting of organic wines and products provided by local producers. On that occasion, the brochure "The Tour of the 7 Churches, Velletri and its Parishes," created for the Jubilee year with the support of the Municipality of Velletri and the Banca Popolare del Lazio, was also presented and distributed.

The 2026 edition

The second edition was held on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, once again in the heart of the Velletri summer. Led by art historians, the walk revisited the evening itinerary of art, history, and faith to rediscover the most evocative corners of the historic center, amidst sacred images, historical landmarks, and glimpses of the illuminated town.

Summer with Pro Loco Velitrae

Madonnelle and Christograms is part of a summer calendar that brings Velletri to life from June to August: the Velletri Buskers Circus, the White Night, the "Notes in the City" festival dedicated to young musicians, and "Music at the Temple" in the archaeological area of the Santissime Stimmate. A program that testifies to the vitality of the Pro Loco Velitrae in enhancing the city's historical and cultural heritage.

Velletri, between the Castelli Romani and Lazio

Nestled on the southern slopes of the Alban Hills, Velletri is one of the oldest and most populous cities of the Castelli Romani, in the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Lazio Region. A land of wine and deep religious traditions, home to an ancient suburbicarian diocese, the city preserves a historic center rich in churches, towers, and palaces: the ideal setting for a walk that weaves together artistic beauty and popular spirituality.