Nostra Signora de La Salette Patronal Feast

A neighborhood festival in the heart of Gianicolense

The Nostra Signora de La Salette Patronal Feast is one of the most heartfelt events in the Gianicolense district, located in the Municipio XII of Rome, the capital of the Lazio region. Every year, during the first half of October, the parish on Piazza Madonna de La Salette opens its doors to the neighborhood for a week of religious celebrations and community moments involving families, parish groups, scouts, and curious visitors alike.

This is not a large-scale event designed for tourists, but something rarer: a local festival where the square becomes a meeting place for a part of the city that lives far from the historic center's circuits. Those looking to understand how Rome expresses itself beyond the famous forums and basilicas will find an authentic experience here.

Devotion to La Salette

The feast is linked to the apparition of the Virgin to two young shepherds in the mountains of La Salette, in the French Alps, on September 19, 1846. That event gave rise to the congregation of the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette, known as the Salettines, who have been present in Rome since the mid-20th century. The message of La Salette, centered on reconciliation, remains the guiding theme of the homilies and meetings throughout the patronal week.

The Roman parish was established on June 18, 1957, by decree of Cardinal Clemente Micara. The church that houses it, built between 1955 and 1965 based on designs by Ennio Canino and Vivina Rizzi, is a remarkable example of post-war sacred architecture: an elliptical plan, reinforced concrete and exposed brick, and a 52-meter-high triangular bell tower that marks the neighborhood skyline. It is worth visiting just for the interior, with its ceiling formed by large concrete segments converging toward the center.

How the patronal week unfolds

The program follows a well-established pattern:

• Novena and daily celebrations: in the days leading up to the feast, weekday masses are accompanied by moments of prayer dedicated to the Madonna de La Salette.
• Community gatherings: catechesis, moments for children, and activities for the AGESCI Roma 19 scout group hosted by the parish.
• Solemn procession: on Saturday afternoon, the statue of the Madonna leaves the church and travels through the streets of the neighborhood, accompanied by the faithful and hymns.
• Festival on the square: upon the return of the procession, the square comes alive with music, food stalls managed by volunteers, and communal tables.
• Solemn Sunday Mass: the central celebration of the patronage, often presided over by a guest from the diocese.

The 2025 edition, a special year

The 2025 patronal week took place from October 5 to 12, with an extension until the 14th. On Saturday, October 11, after the 5:00 PM festive mass, the procession with the statue of the Madonna and the community party on the square were held. On Sunday, October 12, the parish welcomed the pastoral visit of Cardinal Baldo Reina, Vicar of the Holy Father for the Diocese of Rome, who administered the sacrament of confirmation to twenty young people of the community during the 11:30 AM celebration. On October 14, the Cardinal met with the elderly and the sick of the district and presided over the closing mass at 6:30 PM.

What to see nearby

Gianicolense is a well-serviced residential district, just minutes from Monteverde and the Gianicolo hill. Visitors can combine the festival with a walk in Villa Doria Pamphilj, Rome's largest historic park, or head up to the Gianicolo viewpoint for the famous panorama over the city rooftops. The neighborhood also offers a good selection of popular trattorias and bakeries, perfect for a stop before or after the procession.

Who is this festival for?

The La Salette Patronal Feast is not a spectacular event or a large-scale food festival: it is a community celebration, open to everyone, suitable for families with children and those seeking the everyday face of Roman religious life. Access to the celebrations and the procession is free.