Patronal Feast of the Madonna di Valverde

The patron saint of Tarquinia and her sanctuary

The Patronal Feast of the Madonna di Valverde is the most deeply felt religious event in Tarquinia, in the province of Viterbo, Lazio. At the heart of this devotion is the venerated image of the Madonna di Valverde, a Black Madonna who, according to tradition, arrived in the ancient town of Corneto thanks to a crusader returning from the Third Crusade at the end of the 12th century. The icon is housed in the ancient church of Santa Maria di Valverde, which likely dates back to the 12th century and was elevated to a diocesan sanctuary in 1984 by Bishop Grillo.

May 8th, the heart of the feast

Since 2010, following a diocesan decree by Bishop Chenis, the feast day has been fixed on May 8th, ending over five centuries of movable dates. On this day, the sanctuary and the city experience the most intense moment of the celebrations: the afternoon solemn mass, presided over by the Bishop of the Diocese of Civitavecchia-Tarquinia, featuring the chants of the Cathedral Musical Chapel, followed by the grand evening procession with the sacred image.

A month dedicated to the Madonna

The celebrations extend throughout the entire month of May. A three-day preparation period (triduum) precedes the feast, while in the following weeks, local parishes, Catholic associations, and city groups animate the sanctuary every evening with the rosary and mass. The program also includes social and cultural events, such as the community dinner organized by the Association of Devotees of the Madonna di Valverde in Piazza Cavour, featuring live music, and sacred music concerts for voice and organ hosted within the sanctuary.

The procession through the historic center

The most anticipated moment is the May 8th procession, which accompanies the venerated image through the streets and squares of the medieval historic center: Via Valverde, Piazza Cavour, Via Umberto I, Via XX Settembre, Via dello Statuto, and Via San Giuseppe, before returning to the sanctuary. The procession is led by the Giacomo Setaccioli Band, the city's historic musical ensemble, as thousands of locals and visitors gather around their patron saint. The event is also broadcast via live streaming, a testament to how the devotion transcends the city's borders.

Tradition, community, and identity

Organized by the Association of Devotees of the Madonna di Valverde in collaboration with the Diocese and supported by the Municipality of Tarquinia, the patronal feast is a concentration of local identity: popular faith, music, conviviality, and historical memory intertwine in a collective ritual that has been repeated for centuries. For the people of Tarquinia, the Madonna di Valverde is much more than a religious recurrence; it is the very symbol of their community.

Tarquinia, an Etruscan city and UNESCO World Heritage site

The feast is also an excellent opportunity to discover Tarquinia, a jewel of the Viterbo Tuscia overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea, famous for the Etruscan Necropolis of Monterozzi—a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2004—the National Archaeological Museum of Palazzo Vitelleschi, and its evocative medieval historic center filled with towers and Romanesque churches. A unique blend of Etruscan history, medieval art, and religious tradition in the heart of Lazio.