Procession of Our Lady of the Star

A centuries-old tradition on the river

The Procession of Our Lady of the Star is one of the most beloved rites of the Borgo Ticino, the historic riverside district of Pavia. Every year, on June 2nd, the Christian community of the district gathers around an ancient devotion, inextricably linked to the Ticino River and the life of a neighborhood that has always lived by the river.

Mass and boat procession

The day begins with the solemn mass in the church of Santa Maria in Betlem. In the evening, the most spectacular moment begins: the statue of Our Lady of the Star is placed on a barcè, the characteristic flat-bottomed boat of the Pavia tradition, and sails up the Ticino towards the Covered Bridge, accompanied by a evocative procession of illuminated boats. The meeting point for the faithful is at the end of Via Milazzo and in Piazza Ghinaglia.

Faith, history, and the bond with the Ticino

After the boat trip, the procession returns to the parish church for a moment of reflection and Eucharistic blessing. The Bishop of Pavia, Monsignor Corrado Sanguineti, attends the celebration. More than just a religious rite, Our Lady of the Star tells the story of a neighborhood that preserves its identity in the millennial relationship between the city of Pavia and its river.