Solennità della Madonna del Carmelo

The Feast of Mount Carmel

The Solemnity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Mount Carmel, July 16th or the third Sunday of the month) is one of the most important events at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Frassino in Oneta, in the province of Bergamo. It is considered the most solemn liturgical expression of the sanctuary, a moment when Marian devotion in the Val del Riso reaches its peak.

The Procession and the Auction

On the feast day, the statue of the Madonna is carried in procession in the large square of the sanctuary, accompanied by a religious march performed by the band. Among the most characteristic moments is the 'incanto della Madonna' (Madonna auction): a charity auction whose proceeds are destined for the church's needs, an ancient tradition that combines devotion and community generosity.

The Confraternity of Mount Carmel

The feast is linked to the Confraternity of Mount Carmel, founded in Oneta in 1637, which has preserved and passed down devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel for almost four centuries. The solemnity is an occasion for the town and the faithful of the valley to gather at the sanctuary, renewing a cult deeply rooted in the Orobic mountains of Bergamo.