Our Lady of Good Counsel Celebrations

A devotion spanning over five centuries

The celebrations in honor of the Mother of Good Counsel are the most cherished event in the calendar of Genazzano, a village in the Prenestini Mountains within the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, in the heart of Lazio. It all began on April 25, 1467, when the image of the Virgin and Child appeared in the town's Augustinian church. Since then, the cult has spread far beyond regional borders, so much so that the title Mater Boni Consilii was added to the Litany of Loreto by Pope Leo XIII in 1903. Today, the Genazzano Sanctuary is a destination for pilgrims from Italy and abroad.

When it is celebrated

The main celebrations are centered on September 8th, the day of the Nativity of Mary, the town's patron saint according to local tradition. The date is fixed and does not change from year to year. Around this date, the Pro Loco Genazzano, together with the Augustinian community and the Municipality, builds a program that spans several days, typically from the beginning of September until the 8th or the following weekend.

The religious program

The spiritual heart of the festival is the solemn pontifical mass celebrated in the Sanctuary, often presided over by visiting bishops or prelates, and preceded by a cycle of preparatory services. The evening is dedicated to the procession with the venerated image through the streets of the historic center, amidst illuminations, decorated balconies, and the sound of marching bands. It is the moment when the town reaffirms its deepest identity.

The civic program

Alongside the liturgical events, the Pro Loco has for decades curated a civic program published every summer in a dedicated booklet. Recent editions have included:

• the traditional fair with stalls along the village streets;
• evening concerts and musical performances in the squares, featuring tributes to Italian music and local bands;
• cabaret and theater shows with guests well-known to the general public;
• exhibitions and re-enactments in monumental spaces, such as the famous Bramante Nymphaeum;
• guided tours of the Sanctuary, the Colonna Castle, and the historic center;
• activities for children, exhibitions, and sporting events;
• the concluding fireworks display.

The "Person of the Year"

Since 1998, the festival has hosted the Person of the Year award, given to individuals, associations, and entities that have distinguished themselves for their contribution to the Genazzano community—a prize that has become one of the most anticipated moments of the September evenings.

The village and the territory

Genazzano is a medieval village overlooking the Sacco Valley, dominated by the Colonna Castle and also known for its summer Infiorata (flower festival) and the Palio di Brancaleone, the Renaissance re-enactment held in late May. The town is part of the Wine Cities network and offers a cuisine that combines the flavors of the Roman countryside with those of the Prenestini Mountains: homemade pasta, grilled meats, olive oil, and local wines, which can be found at stands and trattorias in the center during the festival evenings.

Why attend

Those arriving in Genazzano on September 8th will find an authentic festival, never "touristified," where the devotional and popular dimensions coexist naturally. It is the best opportunity to visit a sanctuary of international importance while experiencing a typical Lazio patronal feast, complete with its fair, illuminations, and music until late at night.