Santuario Festival / Santuario Fair (Fera dla Madona)

A centuries-old tradition at the foot of the Sanctuary

The Fera dla Madona, officially known as the Vicoforte Sanctuary Fair, is one of the oldest and most deeply rooted events in Piedmont. For over four hundred years, it has taken place in the municipality of Vicoforte, in the province of Cuneo, around the majestic Santuario Regina Montis Regalis, famous for its elliptical dome—the largest of its kind in the world. The fair is tied to the feast of the Nativity of Mary, which falls on September 8th, the same day as the patronal feast of nearby Mondovì.

One of the largest fairs in Piedmont

The event covers an immense area of over 200,000 square meters between the Sanctuary's Palazzata and the surrounding streets. With its stalls, exhibitions, and attractions, the event draws huge crowds each year, confirming its status as a premier commercial and popular gathering for the entire Monregalese area and the province of Cuneo.

• Open-air market: hundreds of stalls featuring local products, food, clothing, handicrafts, and food stands;
• Livestock fair: the historic zootechnical exhibition featuring horses, cattle, sheep, goats, and farm animals, representing the agricultural heart of the event;
• Agricultural machinery exhibition and work equipment, showcasing the region's rural economy;
• Funfair with numerous attractions, a favorite among families.

The religious dimension

Alongside the commercial fair, the Santuario Festival retains a strong spiritual significance. In the days leading up to September 8th, the Sanctuary hosts the preparatory novena, while on the day of the solemnity, the traditional votive procession is renewed, starting from Mondovì and reaching the Sanctuary, where a solemn Mass is celebrated. It is one of the most heartfelt moments for the Monregalese community, where popular devotion and fair tradition intertwine.

Between history and local identity

For generations, the Fera dla Madona has been a meeting point for the people of the Cuneo valleys and countryside. Visiting it means immersing yourself in an authentic atmosphere, filled with the scents of typical Piedmontese products, the chatter of merchants, and the solemnity of the great Baroque Sanctuary in the background. An event that unites commerce, agriculture, faith, and popular celebration, serving as a symbol of rural Piedmontese identity.