Naples – An emotion long-awaited for a quarter of a century. The historic Piedigrotta Festival, a part of Campania's intangible heritage, returns to celebrate one of its most evocative moments: the return to the sea of the statue of the Madonna, an event that hasn't been seen in the Gulf of Naples for 25 years.
From September 1st to October 17th, the city will experience an authentic immersion in faith, art, and popular culture.
The initiative, made possible thanks to the contribution of the Campania Region and Scabec with the Cohesion Funds Italy 21/27, aims not only to celebrate the religious event but also to pass on this centuries-old tradition to new generations. The artistic direction is entrusted to Benedetto Casillo, guaranteeing a deep connection with the Neapolitan soul.
September 14th is the day entirely dedicated to the Madonna
The highlight of the festival will be September 14th, a day entirely dedicated to the homage to the Madonna of Piedigrotta . The celebrations will open at 10:30 a.m. with a parade of children in paper costumes from Piazza del Plebiscito, a symbolic image of the festival. In the afternoon, at 18:00 p.m., a solemn mass will be held, presided over by Cardinal Mimmo Battaglia, in the Church of Santa Lucia a Mare.
But the real spectacle will take place at 7.30pm, when the great procession on the sea will accompany the statue of the Madonna on a suggestive crossing of the gulf, from Santa Lucia to Mergellina.
A rare and eagerly awaited event, renewed after decades, it concludes in the historic Church of Santa Maria di Piedigrotta, the true heart of the event. The procession is accompanied by marches and traditional songs performed by the Canta Suona e Cammina youth band.
The Piedigrotta Festival is more than just devotion. It's a dive into the city's deepest roots, a blend of sounds, colors, and ancient rituals. From the traditional putipù and triccabballacche to the evocative procession on the sea—which, as the lyrics emphasize, only takes place every 51 years—the festival evolves and confirms itself as a symbol of Neapolitanness, once the stage for the Neapolitan song festival, today a major tourist attraction.
The festival will be enriched with a rich cultural program involving several parishes and sacred spaces, with the participation of artists, actors, and musicians such as Mario Maglione, Antonello Rondi, Gennaro Morrone, and many others, who will present readings and performances dedicated to the history of this event, cited even in the works of Boccaccio and Petrarch. Full details of the event will be revealed during the official press conference, scheduled for September 11th in Naples.
The Piedigrotta festival is a very important event for Naples and its cultural tradition. I'm happy that after so long, we're celebrating this event again. We hope there's a strong turnout and everything goes well.