One of the most charming events in Liguria
Festival of the Madonna Bianca in Portovenere
In the romantic setting of Portovenere, on August 17 you can attend the beautiful Madonna Bianca festival, one of the most characteristic events in Liguria of all.
A large annual festival that attracts Italian and international visitors, this event dates back to the 15th century, during which the statue of the Madonna is carried in procession through the streets of the town.
The Madonna Bianca Festival begins with a solemn mass inside the church of San Lorenzo, followed by a procession along the streets of the village as a sign of good luck and protection of sailors and fishermen.
For the event, Portovenere is decked out with many small lanterns from the faraglione to the church of San Pietro, creating a fascinating visual effect after sunset, as of a fiery town reflected in the sea water.
A blanket of candles, torches and lanterns in addition to the boats framing the pier that create a dreamlike scenery.
The religious cult of the Madonna Bianca is linked to a miracle that occurred in 1399 during the French occupation: it is said that on the evening of August 16, at a time when Portovenere was ravaged by a plague, a discolored and blackened parchment depicting the Madonna and Baby Jesus began to regain color.
Not only that, the design changed shape and Mary’s hands began to reach out in prayer, while a scroll appeared on baby Jesus, inviting conversion and faith.
This prodigy had numerous eyewitnesses including the notary Giovanni Michele of Vernazza, who wrote a precise and meticulous chronicle of the event.
This parchment had arrived almost two centuries earlier by sea kept in a cedar trunk from Lebanon, and is still displayed in the church of San Lorenzo next to its wooden container.
The Festival of the White Madonna of Portovenere evokes a vision of grand beauty, a religious and folkloric event not to be missed just a short distance from Sestri Levante.
