Patronal Feast in Honor of the Madonna dell'Uragano

A feast born from a miracle

The Patronal Feast in honor of the Madonna dell'Uragano is the heart of summer in Carovigno, a town in the Province of Brindisi, in the Salento region of Puglia. The feast is rooted in an event passed down through generations: on August 17, 1841, a violent hurricane struck the countryside surrounding the town. According to tradition, the people of Carovigno carried the statue of the Madonna di Belvedere in procession and placed it on a large boulder along the path, known as the Chianca, which can still be seen today on Via Giosuè Carducci. The storm, as the story goes, changed course, sparing the town and devastating only the fields; since then, the Virgin has been venerated as the Madonna dell'Uragano (Our Lady of the Hurricane).

The bond with Belvedere and the Chiesa Nuova

The cult unites two symbolic landmarks of the area: the Sanctuary of Belvedere, the destination of a nocturnal pilgrimage, and the Chiesa Nuova (New Church), where the statue is traditionally moved during the days of the feast. This devotion, deeply rooted in the religious fabric of Carovigno and Salento, intertwines with that of the patron saints Philip and James, creating a tapestry of faith, history, and community identity that draws locals, returning emigrants, and visitors every year.

How the feast unfolds

The program consists of two complementary aspects. The religious side revolves around the solemn novena at the Mother Church in the days leading up to the anniversary, the Night of Graces on August 14th with the pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of Belvedere, and above all, the solemn concelebration and procession on August 17th, which winds through the main streets of the historic center accompanied by a brass band and concludes with traditional fireworks.

The civic side transforms Carovigno into a large open-air stage: artistic illuminations along the streets, market stalls, the bandstand hosting musical performances, and evening shows in Piazza Municipio, which has hosted renowned names of the Italian music scene with free-entry concerts. It is the moment when the entire community, together with the many tourists visiting Puglia in August, gathers to enjoy the festivities late into the night.

2026 Edition

The feast is renewed every year around the August 17th anniversary. At the moment, the official dates and the detailed program for the 2026 edition have not yet been announced by the organizers; information will be released by the Parish and the Patronal Feast Committee in the weeks leading up to the event. This page will be updated as soon as the calendar is made public.