Feast of Maria Santissima di Prestarona in Gerace

The feast of the Madonna di Prestarona in Gerace, in the province of Reggio Calabria, is one of the most heartfelt patronal festivals.

The Prestarona (Gerace) takes place every year on the first Sunday after Easter, at the shrine of the same name in the hamlet of Canolo, at the foot of the Aspromonte National Park. The Madonna di Prestarona in Gerace is the appellation by which Mary is venerated.

According to legend, the Prestarona would appear to the monks of the convent in different places: sometimes they would find her praying in the chapel, other times on a mulberry tree or near the boulder where the church stands today.

Attending the feast of the Madonna di Prestarona in Gerace is an excellent excuse to visit the historical centre, among The Most Beautiful Villages in Italy, and the surroundings of Canolo known as the Dolomites of the South.