Sabo Grando and Perdòn di Barbana

A Vow Lasting Since 1237

The Perdòn di Barbana is one of the oldest and most heartfelt traditions in Friuli Venezia Giulia. Its origins date back to 1237, when Grado was freed from a terrible epidemic: since then, the Grado community has renewed "an ancient, public, and solemn vow, perpetually professed", crossing the lagoon in procession to thank the Madonna. It is a promise that has been uninterrupted for almost eight centuries, held every first Sunday of July.

Sabo Grando: The Eve of the Festival

The celebrations begin on Saturday, the so-called Sabo Grando ("great Saturday" in the Grado dialect): the historic center lights up with lights, sounds, and colors, with music, dances, and popular performances animating the alleys and squares until late at night. It is the festive prelude to the religious event on Sunday.

The Boat Procession

On Sunday morning, after High Mass in the Basilica of Sant'Eufemia, the statue of the Madonna degli Angeli is placed on the "Regina del Mare" (Queen of the Sea), initiating a picturesque procession of decorated and flag-adorned boats. Dozens of vessels follow the statue across the lagoon to the island of Barbana, home to the ancient Marian sanctuary. Here, the Archbishop presides over the solemn Mass before the return to the port and the Te Deum of thanksgiving in the Basilica.

A Grado Identity Heritage

More than an event, the Perdòn di Barbana is the very soul of Grado: it unites faith, the sea, and the identity of a community of fishermen and sailors. The sight of the boats processing across the lagoon, under the July sky, remains one of the most moving moments of the summer on the Island of the Sun, attracting faithful and visitors from all over the region.