Pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of the Madonna dell'Alto

A pilgrimage to the peaks of the Madonie

The Pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of the Madonna dell'Alto is one of the most deeply rooted Marian devotions in inland Sicily. Every year, on the first Sunday of July, the faithful from Castellana Sicula and its hamlets, particularly Calcarelli and Nociazzi, hike to the sanctuary located on the summit of Monte Alto, at an altitude of over 1,800 meters, in the heart of the Madonie Regional Natural Park, in the Province of Palermo. It is the highest Marian sanctuary in Italy and one of the highest in Europe.

The sanctuary and its history

The origins of the cult date back to the Middle Ages: tradition links the founding of the sanctuary to Blessed Guglielmo Gnoffi from Polizzi, while the oldest document mentioning it dates to 1454. Inside, there is a marble statue of the Madonna attributed to the sculptor Domenico Gagini and dated 1471, housed in a 1749 marble altar. The complex includes the small church, the sacristy, and a hermitage with rooms for welcoming pilgrims. The Madonna dell'Alto is also venerated as a co-patron saint of Petralia Sottana.

The journey and devotion

The pilgrimage follows mountain paths that converge from the Madonie towns toward the summit, forming a sacred network starting from Castellana Sicula, Petralia Sottana, Nociazzi, Calcarelli, and Polizzi Generosa. Many devotees make the climb barefoot, as a vow and penance, along rugged terrain. An ancient tradition holds that those making their first pilgrimage should pick up a pebble with their lips at the fountain, immerse it in holy water in the church, and keep it as a protective amulet.

Program and highlights of the feast

The day is marked by sacred services celebrated in the small summit church, followed by a short but intense procession along the scenic path surrounding the sanctuary, with stops to bless all the towns below. After the religious celebrations, pilgrims gather for an open-air lunch in the nearby beech forest, with packed lunches and braziers, in an atmosphere of celebration and brotherhood that concludes the day's journey.

Two annual appointments

The sanctuary hosts two major moments of devotion: the one on the first Sunday of July, promoted by the Parish of Calcarelli in Castellana Sicula, and the one on August 15th, organized by the Parish of Petralia Sottana, which features a evocative night climb. Both attract hundreds of faithful and hikers from across the Madonie region.