Maria Stella Maris Procession (Ferragosto)

The Madonna of the Sea, heart of the Pontine Ferragosto

The Maria Stella Maris Procession is the most heartfelt summer event on the coast of the Municipality of Latina, in the province of Latina, in the Lazio region. It is celebrated every year on August 15th, the day of the Assumption of Mary, and combines in a single day the devotion of the Stella Maris parish, the life of the seaside villages of the Pontine coast, and the popular Ferragosto festival. The Marian title of Stella Maris, «Star of the Sea», is the one that Mediterranean sailors have invoked for centuries as a guide: here, in a city born from the reclamation of the Agro Pontino and overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea, that title has taken on a very concrete meaning, linked to the fishermen and families of the Lido.

Two processions in one day

The festival has a well-established structure in two parts. In the afternoon, the statue of the Madonna leaves the square of the Stella Maris church and travels on land through the streets of the Marina district: via Capraia, the Lungomare road, via Casilina Sud and Nord, the Litoranea road towards Borgo Grappa, via Randa, via Velaccio, and viale Antonio Pennacchi, before returning to the church. Along the route, residents who wish to do so welcome the procession by preparing small altars in front of their homes, with flowers, candles, and drapes: a simple gesture that transforms the seafront into a long devotional itinerary.

In the evening, after Holy Mass, the statue is embarked and the sea procession begins: from the canal port of Rio Martino to Foce Verde, a parade of fishing boats and private vessels accompanies Maria Stella Maris along the coast, followed from the shore by thousands of people gathered on the beach and piers. It is the most photographed moment of the day, when the lights of the boats align on the water at sunset.

Fireworks at Foce Verde

The evening traditionally concludes with a fireworks display on the beach of Foce Verde, which attracts crowds from all over the province and the inland villages. For many Pontine families, it is the true sign of mid-summer: they arrive in the afternoon, watch the procession, have dinner on the beach or at one of the seafront kiosks, and wait for the dark for the fireworks.

A ritual that tells the story of the Pontine coast

• Seafaring devotion — the blessing of the sea and the boats is the central gesture of the festival.
• Neighborhood community — the altars along via Capraia and the Lungomare are set up by the inhabitants, not by the organizers.
• Popular Ferragosto — the day is open to everyone, free of charge, and is fully integrated into the summer program of the Municipality of Latina.
• Landscape — the stretch between Rio Martino, Foce Verde, and Borgo Grappa runs along the Circeo National Park and its dunes.

When to go and what to expect

Those participating for the first time will find an authentic religious festival, more intimate than the number of attendees might suggest: the land procession is slow, marked by hymns and prayers, while the evening part already has the tone of a village festival. It is recommended to arrive early, as traffic on the seafront is regulated and some streets in the Marina district remain closed during the passage of the procession. The rest of the day is well-suited for a complete outing: free beach in the morning, Ferragosto lunch by the sea, and then the procession.