Solemn Celebrations in Honor of the Madonna dello Splendore

A devotion spanning five centuries

The Solemn Celebrations in honor of the Madonna dello Splendore represent the most deeply felt religious and civic event in Giulianova, a town on the Adriatic coast in the province of Teramo, in the heart of Abruzzo. The Madonna dello Splendore is the patron saint of the town and has been venerated for over five centuries in memory of an apparition that, according to tradition, occurred on April 22, 1557.

Popular legend tells of Bertolino, a humble farmer blinded by a light while resting under an olive tree: it was the Virgin, who chose Giulianova as a place of veneration by causing a spring of pure water to flow at the foot of the tree, which is still preserved today at the Sanctuary of the Capuchin Fathers. Since then, every year, the city renews that memory with days of prayer, music, and celebration.

The heart of the festival: the April 22nd procession

The highlight occurs on the morning of April 22nd, when the statue of the Madonna leaves the Duomo di San Flaviano for the solemn procession that winds through the historic center of the upper part of Giulianova, including Corso Garibaldi, Viale dello Splendore, and the neighborhood streets. The procession is organized by the Archconfraternity of Santa Maria della Misericordia and culminates in a concelebrated Eucharistic mass presided over by the Bishop of Teramo-Atri in Piazza Buozzi.

Music, bands, and performances

Alongside the spiritual dimension, the festivities offer a rich civic program that extends throughout the month of April. Marching bands, concerts in churches and squares, cultural presentations, and the famous pyromusical fireworks on the seafront accompany the community until the closing day. Each edition brings major Italian music artists and prestigious bands to the stages of Piazza Belvedere and Piazza Buozzi.

• Marian processions and liturgical celebrations in the Duomo and at the Sanctuary
• Concerts by city bands and the Guardia di Finanza Band
• Performances by national artists in Piazza Belvedere
• Pyrotechnic and pyromusical shows over the sea
• Annual presentation of the "Madonna dello Splendore" magazine

Giulianova: between faith and the sea

The festival is also an opportunity to discover Giulianova, with its refined historic center on the hillside overlooking the Adriatic and the long beach below. The Abruzzo spring, the flavors of the local Teramo seafood cuisine, and the warmth of the community make the Madonna dello Splendore Celebrations much more than a religious anniversary: it is a true identity ritual that unites spirituality, folk traditions, and city life.