Shrine of the Madonna di Polsi

The Shrine of the Madonna di Polsi, in San Luca, in the province of Reggio Calabria, is one of the most important Marian sites in the region, surrounded by nature, folklore and ancient devotion.

The traditional pilgrimage to Polsi represents an unmissable ritual for the faithful: it takes place every year, from 31 August to 2 September, and culminates with the Feast of the Madonna di Polsi, the most eagerly awaited in the province, which welcomes thousands of pilgrims to an impervious and evocative place, where the beloved Madonna of the Mountain is celebrated. 

The veneration of the Madonna di Polsi has very ancient origins: legend has it that in the 11th century, some fishermen from Bagnara Calabra, on the Tyrrhenian coast, came across an unmanned boat sailing with two long lit candles. Dragging it ashore, they discovered a statue of the Virgin Mary on board, which they proceeded to hide inland with an ox-drawn cart. The next morning, the statue had disappeared, only to be found again by a young shepherd at the spot where one of the oxen had knelt in front of an ancient Basilian cross. The spot where, according to this variant of the myth, the present Shrine was erected.

The festival of the Madonna di Polsi is also a convivial occasion in which ancient customs linked to the consumption of meat, once slaughtered on the spot, and moments featuring traditional Calabrian musical instruments are handed down.

From here, trekking enthusiasts can continue for an excursion in the Aspromonte National Park, in particular along the literary itinerary dedicated to the writer Corrado Alvaro, who set Gente in Aspromonte in the places around the Shrine and its festival.