Votive Procession of Santa Maria Assunta

A wartime vow renewed every Ferragosto

The Votive Procession of Santa Maria Assunta is one of the most cherished events in the calendar of Riva del Garda, located in the heart of the Upper Garda region in the province of Trento (Trentino-Alto Adige). Every August 15th, on the Feast of the Assumption, the community gathers around its patron saint to renew a solemn vow rooted in one of the most dramatic moments of local history.

The origins: the vow of August 15, 1944

The celebration stems from a vow signed on August 15, 1944, by Archpriest Dean Enrico Paolazzi, Mayor Lodovico Donati, and over a thousand citizens, just weeks after the Nazi massacre on June 28th of that year. The text of the vow promised that if the city were spared from the horrors of the war, they would hold "a solemn procession through the streets of the city every year on the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary" in honor and gratitude to the patron saint. Since then, the Municipality of Riva del Garda has kept that promise, which is passed down as a symbol of civic cohesion and moral resistance.

The day's events

The solemnity begins in the morning with Holy Mass in the parish church, in the presence of the venerated 15th-century wooden statue of the patron saint. Following the service, the procession begins, following the traditional route through the historic center:

• departure from Piazza Cavour, passing through Porta San Michele and Viale Dante Ovest;
• descent along Via Fiume, through Porta San Marco, to Piazza Tre Novembre, overlooking the harbor, where boats pay tribute to the Madonna with the blessing of the lake;
• return along Via Gazzoletti, Via Florida, Piazza Erbe, and Via Santa Maria back to Piazza Cavour, where the City Band performs a short closing concert.

The procession is led by the statue of the patron saint accompanied by the municipal banner, while the bells of the parish church and the Apponale civic tower mark the rhythm of the march. Civil and religious authorities, law enforcement, associations, and a large crowd of faithful and tourists take part in the event.

Faith, memory, and identity

Beyond its religious dimension, the votive procession is today a powerful symbol of civic identity: a moment when Riva del Garda recognizes itself in its history and its bond with the lake. Over the years, the celebration has been attended by bishops and archbishops of Trento and has marked significant milestones for the community, such as the unification of the three city parishes of Santa Maria Assunta, Sant'Alessandro, and San Giuseppe. It is an event deeply rooted in the social fabric of the Upper Garda, also appreciated by the many visitors present in the city for Ferragosto.