Festa della Madonna Bianca 2023

Festa della Madonna Bianca 2023 will take place on Thursday, August 17, 2023, in the beautiful town of Portovenere.

Festa della Madonna Bianca (Feast of the White Madonna) is a religious feast which takes place every year on August 17, in Portovenere, in honor of the White Madonna, the patron saint of the town.

SHORT HISTORY

The Feast of the White Madonna recalls the miracle of 1399, when, according to legend, during the French occupation, the seaside village of Portovenere was struck by plague.

The tradition states that on August 16, 1399, a villager named Luciardo, while praying in front of the image depicting the Virgin Mary, a discolored parchment drawn by pen, saw the painting suddenly coloured.

Once the plague was over, the miracle was attributed to the Virgin Mary, the painting was transported to the Church of San Lorenzo, and the cult of the White Madonna was initiated.

It is said that the sacred painting of the Virgin Mary was washed ashore in Portovenere in 1204, enclosed in a cedar trunk.

During those times, ships returning from the Holy Land had trunks on board, in which were stored precious objects, which were sealed and thrown into the sea when attacked by pirates.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

The day of August 17, 2023, will begin at 6.30 am with the morning procession to the Church of San Lorenzo, where the painting of the White Madonna is kept.

Various liturgical ceremonies will take place throughout the day, culminating around 8.30 pm with the Holy Mass held in the Church of San Lorenzo.

Starting with 9.15 pm, a torchlight procession will unfold along the streets of the town, carrying the icon of the White Madonna.

On this occasion, the town will be lit by about 2000 roman torches, placed mainly on the rocky spur of Punta San Pietro, including the Byron’s Grotto.