Santa Maria della Sorresca Festival
The procession on the Monday after Pentecost from San Felice Circeo to the Sanctuary on Lake Paola
About Sorresca Festival
A festival uniting two Circeo municipalities
The Santa Maria della Sorresca Festival is the most important religious event of the year for the municipality of San Felice Circeo, in the province of Latina, Lazio. It is celebrated every year on the Monday after Pentecost—a movable feast, with dates varying between May and June—and is one of the rare celebrations shared between two towns: the long procession starts from the historic center of San Felice Circeo and reaches the Sorresca Sanctuary on the shores of Lake Paola, in the territory of Sabaudia, with the participation of the diocesan bishop and the civil authorities of both cities.
The legend of the Madonna "risen from the waters"
At the origin of the festival lies an ancient legend. It is said that some fishermen from San Felice Circeo found a wooden statue of the Madonna and Child tangled in their nets. Brought to a nearby church, the statue was mysteriously found the following day on the shore of the lake, resting on an oak stump: the fishermen saw this as a divine sign, and a church was built on that very spot. The name "Sorresca" is believed to derive from the fact that the sacred image had "risen" (sorta) from the waters during the Easter season; the body of water itself, once called Lake Circeo, took the name Lake Santa Maria della Sorresca, now known as Lake Paola.
The great procession on Whit Monday
The heart of the festival is the procession on the Monday after Pentecost. From the first light of dawn, around 5 AM, the sound of bells and firecrackers wakes the town; at 6 AM, the procession leaves the parish church of San Felice Martire in the medieval village, accompanied by a marching band. After the traditional greeting to the Madonna at the small Cona church, the procession—carrying the pilgrim statue known as "Maris Stella"—continues toward Sabaudia along a route of over 14 kilometers, followed by about a thousand faithful.
At the Sanctuary on Lake Paola
The arrival at the Sorresca Sanctuary, a jewel of ancient origins overlooking the waters of Lake Paola just a short distance from the center of Sabaudia, is the most intense moment of the day. In the late morning, the diocesan bishop concelebrates a solemn Mass in the sanctuary square alongside numerous priests, in the presence of the Confraternity of Maria SS. della Sorresca in traditional attire and the civil authorities of San Felice Circeo and Sabaudia. In the afternoon, a final Mass is held, then the statue begins its journey back: the evening processional return from the Cona to the historic center, accompanied by the Rector's speech, concludes the festival with deep emotion and a sense of community.
Tradition, faith, and Pontine identity
The Sorresca Festival is not just a religious rite: it is a piece of the identity of the Circeo promontory and the entire Pontine territory. The Sunday of Pentecost preceding the procession is animated by Masses, the marching band touring the historic center, and a solemn celebration in San Felice Martire with the choir. The pilgrimage traverses the landscapes of the Circeo National Park, between the promontory, the plains, and the coastal lake dunes: an extraordinary natural setting that makes this festival one of the most authentic experiences in lower Lazio, attracting faithful, returning emigrants, and curious visitors every year.
Sorresca Festival — edition 2026
The 2026 Sorresca: Monday, May 25
In 2026, Pentecost fell on Sunday, May 24, and the Sorresca Festival was celebrated, as per tradition, on the following Monday, May 25. The date was officially announced by the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Sorresca, which invited the communities of San Felice Circeo and Sabaudia to participate in the celebrations.
Pentecost Sunday opened the festivities with morning Masses, the marching band touring the historic center, and the solemn celebration in the church of San Felice Martire, in the presence of the Confraternity in traditional attire. On Monday, May 25, after the dawn wake-up call with bells and firecrackers, the procession departed at 6 AM from the village toward the Cona and then along the 14 kilometers leading to the Sanctuary on the shores of Lake Paola. In the late morning, the solemn Mass concelebrated by the diocesan bishop brought together the faithful and civil authorities of the two municipalities; in the late afternoon, after the final Mass at the sanctuary, the processional return toward San Felice Martire concluded the 2026 edition.
Programme Sorresca Festival 2026
Sunday, May 24, 2026 — Pentecost
- Morning — Masses at the church of San Felice Martire.
- Late afternoon — Marching band tour in the historic center of San Felice Circeo.
- 6:00 PM — Solemn Mass at San Felice Martire with the Confraternity of Maria SS. della Sorresca in traditional attire and choir accompaniment.
Monday, May 25, 2026 — Festival Day
- 5:00 AM — Dawn wake-up call with bells and firecrackers.
- 6:00 AM — Departure of the procession from the church of San Felice Martire with the pilgrim statue "Maris Stella", accompanied by the marching band; greeting to the Madonna at the small Cona church and walk of over 14 km toward Sabaudia.
- Morning — Masses at the Sorresca Sanctuary on Lake Paola.
- 11:00 AM — Solemn Mass concelebrated by the diocesan bishop in the sanctuary square, with civil authorities of San Felice Circeo and Sabaudia.
- 6:00 PM — Final Mass at the sanctuary.
- 7:30 PM — Processional return from the Cona to the church of San Felice Martire, with the Rector's closing speech.
Highlights Sorresca Festival 2026
- Procession of over 14 km from San Felice Circeo to the Sanctuary on Lake Paola, with about a thousand faithful.
- Solemn Mass concelebrated by the diocesan bishop in the sanctuary square.
- Festival shared between the municipalities of San Felice Circeo and Sabaudia, with civil authorities from both cities.
- The pilgrim statue "Maris Stella" carried through the landscapes of the Circeo National Park.
- Poignant evening processional return from the Cona to the medieval village.
Prices Sorresca Festival 2026
Practical information — Sorresca Festival
How to get there
San Felice Circeo can be reached by car from Rome via the SS148 Pontina road toward Terracina/Sabaudia, then following signs for Circeo. By train, the nearest station is Priverno-Fossanova (Rome-Naples line via Formia), with COTRAL buses connecting to San Felice Circeo. The Sorresca Sanctuary is located on the shores of Lake Paola, a short walk from the center of Sabaudia.
Participation
The festival is free and open to everyone. The procession departs at 6 AM from the church of San Felice Martire in the historic center: those wishing to participate in the pilgrimage on foot (over 14 km) should wear comfortable shoes and bring water. It is also possible to reach the sanctuary directly for the late morning solemn Mass. On festival days, traffic between San Felice Circeo and Sabaudia may be subject to temporary changes.
Contacts
Confraternity of Maria SS. della Sorresca — tel. +39 338 9206578 — [email protected]
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Where does it take place — Sorresca Festival
Chiesa di San Felice Martire e Santuario di Santa Maria della Sorresca (Lago di Paola)
Piazza Busiri Vici, 04017 San Felice Circeo