On the 16th December Madonna della Madia is being celebrated in Monopoli as Patron Saint of the city.
According to the tradition, the Virgin Hodegetria Icon (Hodegetria comes from a greek word which means “She who shows the way”) landed by some miracle during the night of 16th December in Monopoli old harbour aboard on a wooden raft: a miracle which allowed the bishop Romualdo to complete the roof of the Romanesque Cathedral, began on 1107 and remained unfinished because of lack of funds.
The ceiling of the new church could be built thanks to the wooden beams of the raft.
In December the historical re-enactment of the legendary landing takes place around 5 am, as it happened originally in the Middle Ages: people from Monopoli wait the arrival of the Virgin Mary icon along the streets nearby the docks of the port and welcome the Patron Saint with warmth and devotion.
It’s an event rich in tradition and suggestion and folk gets prepared spending the whole night in the company of family and friends having party at home before reaching the harbour in the early morning.
The patronal feast is also organized in summertime, between the 14th and the 16th August, and in this case the liturgical event is celebrated at sunset, when the sunlight goes down, a break from the heat, the colours fade away.
A spiritual occasion for worshippers and tourists to enjoy an unique and emotional atmosphere.
viaggieitinerari... in Puglia by Valeria Dicarlo 