Pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of the Madonna di Candelecchia

The Pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of the Madonna di Candelecchia

The Pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of the Madonna di Candelecchia is one of the most deeply felt events of faith and tradition in the town of Trasacco, in the heart of the Marsica region, in the province of L'Aquila, Abruzzo. It is a foot pilgrimage that leads devotees from the town center to the Marian sanctuary nestled in the woods at the foot of Monte Longagna, about 4 kilometers from the town at an altitude of 891 meters.

A sanctuary with ancient roots

The Sanctuary of the Madonna di Candelecchia has its origins in the medieval period: the original votive chapel is documented as early as 1070 among Benedictine properties and passed to the local community in 1120 following a donation. Expanded over the centuries, damaged by the 1915 Marsica earthquake, and restored several times, the sanctuary has historically housed pilgrim dormitories, a refectory, and spaces that still welcome those who come to pray today. The site belongs to the Diocese of Avezzano.

A centuries-old devotion

For the people of Trasacco, the pilgrimage to Candelecchia is a deeply rooted tradition: every Sunday after Easter, and particularly on Divine Mercy Sunday (Domenica in Albis), the sanctuary becomes a destination for a full day spent in devotion, nature, and conviviality. The religious dimension is intertwined with popular customs, such as the mazza di Candelecchia—a hand-carved wooden staff with spiral motifs and the date of the pilgrimage, kept at home as a memento of the day. Traditional flavors are also a staple: cured meats, frittata with wild mint (nepitella), hard-boiled eggs, and the last pieces of Easter pizza saved specifically for the occasion.

The journey, prayer, and the candlelit procession

Alongside spontaneous pilgrimages, the San Gabriele dell'Addolorata Association, together with the Confraternity of the Madonna di Candelecchia and the Parish of Saints Cesidio and Rufino Martiri, organizes the official Pilgrimage: a community journey that starts from the New Cemetery square, winds along the path toward the sanctuary with the recitation of the Holy Rosary, culminates in the celebration of Holy Mass, and concludes with a packed dinner and a suggestive candlelit procession back at dusk. The entire population is invited to participate in this moment that unites faith, tradition, and a bond with the Marsica territory.