Santa Maria di Merino Festival
The patronal feast of Vieste: a blend of devotion, sea, and Gargano folklore
About Santa Maria di Merino
The patron saint of Vieste
The Santa Maria di Merino Festival is the main patronal feast of Vieste, a town in the Province of Foggia overlooking the Gargano promontory in Puglia. Every year, between late April and the first ten days of May, the entire community gathers around its Protectress in a tapestry of devotion, maritime tradition, and folklore that involves residents, returning emigrants, and tourists alike.
The legend of the discovery
According to tradition, the wooden statue of the Madonna was found on the beach of Merino by two fishermen, one from Vieste and one from Peschici. Both wanted her in their own city and, unable to agree, they decided to leave it to fate: they tied the statue to a cart pulled by two oxen, one from Vieste and one from Peschici, letting the animals choose the direction. The cart headed toward Vieste, thus beginning the city's Marian devotion. Santa Maria di Merino is venerated as the protector of sailors and fields, a dual patronage that reflects the soul of this land suspended between the sea and the countryside.
The Sanctuary of Merino
The spiritual heart of the festival is the Sanctuary of Santa Maria di Merino, located a few kilometers from the town center, on the plain where an ancient Roman villa once stood. The central part of the building is the oldest (11th-12th century) and is built on the remains of Roman walls, while the other chapels were added between the 19th and early 20th centuries. On the main day, the long procession—the most intense moment of all the celebrations—winds its way toward this site.
Solemn rites and procession
The religious program opens with the enthronement of the venerated statue and continues with chapter masses, vespers, and celebrations presided over by the Archbishop. The highlight is the solemn procession that, every May 9th, accompanies the statue of the Madonna from the Cathedral to the Sanctuary along a route of about 7 kilometers between the sea, olive groves, and the scents of the Mediterranean scrub, before returning to the city in the evening amidst crowds of faithful.
The secular festival
Alongside the sacred aspect, the secular festival brings the streets and squares of Vieste to life with illuminations, brass band concerts, folk groups, festivals of local products (traditional Vieste sweets and the famous anchovies), and grand firework displays: from the pyromusical fireworks at Marina Piccola to the grand finale at night over the harbor. It is an event that unites the sacred and the profane, transforming the Gargano historic center into a stage of sounds, lights, and tradition every year.
Santa Maria di Merino — edition 2026
The 2026 edition combined, as per tradition, the religious and secular programs over ten days of celebrations. Official dates and the full program were released by the Santa Maria di Merino Committee and covered by the local Gargano press.
The climax occurred on May 8th and 9th, with vespers, the descent of the venerated statue, and the solemn procession from the Cathedral to the Sanctuary of Merino, presided over by Archbishop Mons. Franco Moscone. The secular side enlivened Vieste with brass band concerts, folk groups, and grand firework displays.
Programme Santa Maria di Merino 2026
Thursday, April 30 — Religious opening
- 10:00 AM — Enthronement of the venerated statue of Santa Maria di Merino and Holy Mass
Thursday, May 7 — Secular opening
- 4:30 PM — Diana with firework batteries and parade of the town band
- 7:00 PM — Lighting of the illuminations
- 9:00 PM — Festival in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele with traditional Vieste sweets and anchovies, followed by the musical show "Tarantella Live"
Friday, May 8
- 11:30 AM — Chapter Mass
- 6:45 PM — First vespers and stational mass presided over by Archbishop Mons. Franco Moscone, with an offering of candles and flowers
- 9:30 PM — Descent of the venerated statue of the Virgin of Merino
- During the day — Band activities with the Rutigliano band and "Tutti in bici" initiative by the Motoclub Gargano Vieste
Saturday, May 9 — Main day
- 6:30 AM — Holy Mass
- 7:30 AM — Parade of the town bands "G. Cariglia" and "P. Rinaldi"
- 8:45 AM — Solemn procession of the venerated statue from the Cathedral to the Sanctuary of Merino (approx. 7 km), presided over by the Archbishop and the Cathedral Chapter
- 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM — Brass band concerts on Corso L. Fazzini
- 11:00 PM — Return of the Protectress with a pyromusical show at Marina Piccola
Sunday, May 10 — Closing
- 9:30 AM — Holy Mass and parade of the "G. Cariglia" band; followed by the repositioning of the venerated statue
- 6:00 PM — Parade of the "Young Marching Band" on Corso L. Fazzini
- 7:30 PM — Performance by the folk group "Pizzeche & Muzzeche" at the Municipal Gardens
- 9:30 PM — Show by Santino Caravella and I Desideri at the Marina Piccola Rotunda
- 12:00 AM — Grand finale with a firework display over the harbor
Highlights Santa Maria di Merino 2026
Prices Santa Maria di Merino 2026
Practical information — Santa Maria di Merino
How to get there
Vieste can be reached by car from the A14 motorway (Poggio Imperiale or Foggia exit) by continuing along the Gargano roads; in summer and during festival periods, bus connections are available from Foggia and the main towns in Puglia. The reference railway stations are Foggia and San Severo, with onward travel by bus.
Where and when
The celebrations take place in the historic center of Vieste, between the Cathedral, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele, Corso L. Fazzini, and the Marina Piccola area, with the procession heading to the Sanctuary of Merino. Events are concentrated between the end of April and May 10th.
Tips
Participation is free and open to all. During the days of the procession and fireworks, traffic restrictions are in place: it is best to get around the center on foot. As this is a very popular period, it is advisable to book accommodation in advance.
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Where does it take place — Santa Maria di Merino
Centro storico e Santuario di Santa Maria di Merino