Festa della Stella Maris 2023

Festa della Stella Maris will take place on Sunday, August 6, 2023, in the beautiful town of Camogli.

Festa della Stella Maris is a religious feast of light, held every year in Camogli, on the first Sunday of August. The feast is dedicated to the Star of the Sea (Stella Maris), the Madonna who protects the sailors during their journey at sea.

SHORT HISTORY

The tradition was born in 1924, when Don Nicolò Lavarello, rector of the Church of San Nicolò di Capodimonte, thought of restoring the statue of the Madonna from the promontory of Punta Chiappa.

A procession of boats was organized then, which, starting from the Port of Camogli, accompanied the statue of the Madonna to Punta Chiappa.

However, the origins of the veneration of Stella Maris are much older, lost in the 15th century, when the fishermen of Camogli began to rely on the Madonna, so that their time spent at sea will be profitable and safe.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

In the morning of August 6, around 10.00 am, a procession of boats will depart from the Port of Camogli towards Punta Chiappa, located a few kilometers to the south, at the foot of the Portofino Mountain (Monte di Portofino).

At the forefront of the procession will be the Dragun, a historic boat built in 1968 by the shipbuilder Ido Battistoni.

Around 11.00 pm, the boats will arrive at Punta Chiappa, where the Holy Mass will be celebrated, followed by the blessing of the boats.

In the afternoon, there will be a series of games on water, a parade of boats and also a swimming race.

In the evening, the most spectacular moment will take place: thousands of lit candles will be released on water from the Camogli Beach, lighting the sea, which will resemble a sky full of stars. The night will end with a fireworks display.