7 and 8 June 2025
The Municipal Administrations of Alpago, Chies d’Alpago, Follina and Tambre, in collaboration with the Parishes, have decided to join forces to enhance an ancient tradition and make it a driving force for tourism development not only in their territories, but also in the Provinces of Belluno and Treviso in which they are located. The event in question is the Pilgrimage of the day of Pentecost to the Abbey of the Madonna del Rosario in Follina by the people of Alpago, a journey that has its roots in popular devotion. Born as a form of thanksgiving by the people of Alpago towards the Madonna for having made a thick blanket of persistent fog disappear that was endangering the crops and sheep farming in the Conca, according to legend after the invocation to the Virgin the fog retreated. The grace received pushed some valley dwellers to walk to the Abbey of Follina to pray in front of the effigy of the Madonna, giving rise to a pilgrimage that has since then taken place every year on the afternoon of Pentecost Sunday.
A tradition that returns again this year, on 7 and 8 June 2025, with an even deeper meaning given by the proclamation of the Cistercian Abbey of Follina as a “jubilee place” for the Jubilee of 2025 centered on the theme of Hope. The program of the event illustrated during the presentation press conference, develops over two days and includes for Saturday 7 June in the morning, in the Municipality of Chies at the Sanctuary of Irrighe, the welcome to the notes of the Interparish Choir of Alpago that will precede the conference entitled “The pilgrimage of the Alpagotti to Follina in the year of the Jubilee of Hope: between history, faith and resilience”. The conference will be attended by the Bishop of Belluno Renato Marangoni, the teacher Paola Barattin, the Scientific Director of the Beato Toniolo Institute Marco Zabotti and Professor Danilo Gasparini. Moderator the journalist Giancarlo De Luca. In the afternoon we will go down to Follina for the sheep shearing and the guided tour of the Antico Lanificio Paoletti. In the evening, in collaboration with the Proloco of Follina, the tasting of lamb cooked by the chefs of Follina and Alpago. On Sunday 8 June, the day of the pilgrimage, the people of Alpago will set off on foot in the early morning towards Follina, where they will be welcomed upon their arrival in the afternoon to the music of the Chies d’Alpago Municipal Band. The Holy Mass will follow in the Abbey presided over by Cardinal Beniamino Stella and broadcast live on television. Also in the Abbey, the “Concert in honour of the Madonna del Rosario and the Communities of Follina and Alpago devoted to her” will follow to the music of the Piccola Orchestra Veneta with choir, conducted by Maestro Giancarlo Nadai. The mayor of Follina Paola Carniello, who spoke at the conference, specified: “The bond between Follina and Alpago has its roots in the centuries. Follina is not just a destination, but a symbol of faith and tradition that deeply unites our territories, preserving and representing a common history that still today speaks of identity and belonging”. The mayor of Chies d’Alpago Gianluca Dal Borgo added: “The Marianna Veneration between the Conca dell’Alpago and the Piave District makes us understand that for centuries these valleys and these communities have frequented each other through the values of faith, reciprocity, conviviality and brotherhood, to create cohesion and alliances to build together the future of our Venetian land.
This year we return with a pilgrimage in great pomp as the tradition must not be forgotten but relaunched”. In closing, Marco Zabotti Scientific Director of the Beato Toniolo Institute added: “As an Institute we are truly happy and grateful to participate in this event of great historical, religious and cultural significance, in the perspective of memory, tradition and valorization of the extraordinary heritage of faith and devotion of the people of Belluno and Treviso, connecting the Christian communities of two territories now UNESCO in a place symbolic of the excellence of our land, such as the Abbey of Follina”
For updates and detailed program of the event consult the Facebook page:
“Pellegrinaggio Alpago Follina” or call the number 3487896586
