Patronal Feast of the Blessed Virgin of San Giovanni

A festival born from a miracle

The Patronal Feast of the Blessed Virgin of San Giovanni is the most anticipated event of the year in Sommariva del Bosco, a town in the Roero area of the province of Cuneo, Piedmont. Its origins date back to May 6, 1685, when a blind man on his way to the sanctuary of the Virgin of Moretta stopped to pray before a Marian image painted on a wall and, according to tradition, regained his sight. In the following days, other miracles reportedly occurred, leading the Church to initiate a canonical process with the Archbishop of Turin. By September of that same year, construction began on a temple commissioned to the ducal architect Michelangelo Garove. Thus, the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of San Giovanni was born, built upon an 11th-century medieval chapel.

Between faith and popular tradition

The festival blends religious devotion with popular and civic celebration. The spiritual heart of the event is the preparatory novena—nine evenings of rosary, homilies, and Eucharistic benediction—culminating in the solemnity of the parish's patron saints, Saints James and Philip the Apostles. The most emotional moment remains the candlelight procession that accompanies the statue of the Virgin from the sanctuary to the parish church, followed the next day by the return procession: a ritual that has marked the spring in Sommariva for centuries and continues to draw faithful from neighboring towns.

More than just religion: the secular program

Alongside the liturgical celebrations, the festival brings the town's streets and squares to life for days with a rich and varied secular calendar designed for all ages:

• Street food and DJ nights on Via Cavour;
• The Trail del Bersaglio, a trail running race through the woods and paths of the Roero;
• Exhibitions, including a spectacular display of brick constructions;
• Photography contests, markets, workshops, and children's entertainment;
• Sports tournaments and the grand party in the square.

An event to experience in the Roero

Visiting the patronal feast is also an opportunity to discover Sommariva del Bosco and the Roero territory, a land of wines, hazelnuts, and hilly landscapes recognized by UNESCO. Between a procession and a plate of street food, the festival tells the story of a community that has proudly guarded the memory of its miracle for over three centuries.