The Kiss of the Madonnas on Monte Asprano (Castrocielo and Colle San Magno)

A rite that unites two communities

The Kiss of the Madonnas on Monte Asprano is one of the most evocative religious and folk traditions in the Ciociaria region. Every year, on Easter Monday (Lunedì in Albis), the towns of Castrocielo and Colle San Magno, in the heart of the province of Frosinone, relive an ancient ceremony rooted in the shared history of these two southern Lazio centers.

At dawn, two long processions depart from their respective towns and slowly climb the slopes of Monte Asprano, carrying the statues of the two Madonnas on their shoulders. The processions meet near the small Church of Santa Maria Assunta in Cielo, where the climax takes place: the statues are placed on special bases, known in the local dialect as posature, then tilted and brought together in the Bow and the Kiss, amidst the deep emotion of the thousands of faithful gathered on the mountain.

The origins: a church shared by two towns

The tradition dates back to the 1300s, when the Church of Santa Maria Assunta in Cielo was built on the summit of Monte Asprano. For centuries, that church was a place of worship shared by two communities: Colle San Magno and Palazzolo, the ancient village that later became Castrocielo. The archpriest resided for six months in one town and six months in the other, in a rare example of spiritual communion. It was only in 1850 that two distinct parishes were established.

From this shared history, but also from ancient rivalries over the right of precedence in celebrations, the rite of the Kiss was born: a gesture that today symbolizes reconciliation, unity, and brotherhood. By custom, the procession starting from Castrocielo always arrives first at the meeting point.

The celebration after the Kiss

Once the religious services in the small mountain church have concluded, the day continues in joy with a traditional outdoor breakfast, shared by families, groups of friends, and visitors:

• ciambelloni (ring-shaped cakes), called pigne in the local dialect, and Easter donuts;
• hard-boiled eggs, a symbol of Easter;
• salami and typical local products;
• Ciociaria wine.

Amidst prayers, songs, and conviviality, Monte Asprano is transformed for a day into a meeting point for an entire territory.

A recognized heritage of Lazio

The event has obtained the Recognition of Historicity and has been included among the Historic Fairs of the Lazio Region, confirming its cultural and identity value. For the inhabitants of Castrocielo and Colle San Magno, and for the many visitors who reach the mountain at dawn every year, the Kiss of the Madonnas remains much more than a procession: it is the living memory of two towns that, although separate, continue to recognize themselves in a single gesture of peace.