Sagra dell'Assunta

The patron saint's festival in the heart of Lessinia

The Sagra dell'Assunta is the patronal festival of Selva di Progno, a town in the upper Lessinia region, in the province of Verona. It is celebrated around August 15th, the solemnity of the Assumption of Mary, the town's patron saint. On this occasion, the Municipality and the Pro Loco (local tourism board) prepare, as every year, the traditional festival where religion, music, and dancing intertwine for several days of celebration.

Procession, craftsmanship, and mountain gastronomy

The program alternates devotional moments with convivial ones: the procession with the statue of Our Lady of the Assumption, the Craftsmanship Exhibition (traditionally inaugurated on the 15th), evenings with orchestra and dancing, and food stalls. Among the typical dishes, the 'gnocchi sbautui' stand out, the 'malga' gnocchi from the Lessinia tradition, an expression of the peasant cuisine of these mountains.

The 'Sparo dei Trombini', a seal of the Cimbrian community

What makes the festival unique is the climactic moment of the 'Sparo dei Trombini': the ancient arquebuses, now harmless, are fired in a ceremony as a symbol of tradition and connection to one's land. It is the thread that connects Selva di Progno to its Cimbrian roots, the same culture that animates the other hamlets of the municipality. A festival of identity that draws residents, holidaymakers, and visitors to the Lessinia plateau.