Feast of the Rosary in Cittanova

Piazza Stazione · Cittanova, Costa Viola, Calabria

10 October 2026 – 11 October 2026

On Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 October 2026 Cittanova celebrates Our Lady of the Rosary with two free evenings of music in Piazza Stazione: on Saturday at 10 pm the concert by Lo Strano Percorso – 883 Tribute Band followed by a DJ set from DJ Cosmi, on Sunday the Voglio Tornare Negli Anni '90 live show, closed by a fireworks display. On both days the town hosts the Rosary Fair and Rosario Street Food. These public celebrations accompany the month of devotion that Cittanova dedicates to Our Lady of the Rosary, venerated in the nineteenth-century sanctuary on Piazza Don Domenico Tropeano.

The programme: two evenings in Piazza Stazione

The heart of the public celebrations is Piazza Stazione, which becomes an open-air stage for two nights. On Saturday 10 October at 10 pm Lo Strano Percorso – 883 Tribute Band takes the stage with the songs of Max Pezzali and 883, the Italian pop band that defined the 1990s; the evening continues with a DJ set by DJ Cosmi. On Sunday 11 October it is the turn of Voglio Tornare Negli Anni '90, a live show devoted to the music and imagery of that decade, mixing dance, pop and stage effects. A traditional fireworks display follows the show and closes the festival. The festival programme lists 10 pm for Sunday as well, while the tour listing gives a 9.30 pm start: it is best to reach the square a little early.

The Rosary Fair and Rosario Street Food

On Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 October the festival is not only an evening affair. On both days Cittanova hosts the Rosary Fair (Fiera del Rosario), the market with stalls that has always accompanied the celebration, alongside Rosario Street Food, with street-food stands designed for eating together before and during the concerts. It is the easiest way to enjoy the festival in the afternoon too, strolling between the stands. If you would rather sit down for a meal, see the guide to where to eat in Cittanova, and for a coffee or an aperitif there is the selection of bars and cafés in Cittanova.

A month devoted to Our Lady of the Rosary

The two days of music are the civic side of a festival that in Cittanova is above all religious. October is the month the Church dedicates to the Rosary: the liturgical memorial falls on 7 October and recalls the Battle of Lepanto in 1571, whose victory was attributed to the intercession of the Virgin invoked through the Rosary, so much so that Pope Pius V first established the feast as Our Lady of Victory. In Cittanova the devotion runs through the whole month, with celebrations that draw worshippers from across the Diocese of Oppido Mamertina-Palmi. According to the tradition reported by local sources, the cycle ends late in the month with a procession of the statue through the streets and a historical parade in seventeenth-century costume. Dates and times of the 2026 religious celebrations are not part of the civic programme and should be checked with the sanctuary parish.

The Sanctuary of Maria SS. del Rosario

The devotion is centred on the Sanctuary of Maria Santissima del Rosario, on Piazza Don Domenico Tropeano, a few minutes' walk from Piazza Stazione. Its foundation stone was laid on 7 May 1823, on the site of a small seventeenth-century church dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary that was destroyed by the 1783 earthquake. The project was promoted by Don Domenico Maria Siciliani and entrusted to the architect Francesco Morani and his sons. The tripartite façade is framed by two square bell towers; the central niche holds a white marble Madonna and Child by the sculptor Francesco Jerace, while the single-nave interior preserves the wooden statue of Our Lady of the Rosary, stucco work and frescoes. It became a parish church in 1953, was raised to diocesan sanctuary on 8 December 1999 and is among the places listed by the Italian National Trust (FAI I Luoghi del Cuore page).

Admission and practical information

The concerts take place in the square and admission is free: no tickets or bookings are needed, while food and drinks at the fair and street-food stands are paid for separately. These two evenings are among the busiest of the autumn in the Piana di Gioia Tauro, so arrive in good time, park in the streets around the centre and walk to Piazza Stazione. The programme may change, especially in bad weather: close to the date, check the official event listing and announcements from the town council and the parish.

Getting to Cittanova and where to stay

Cittanova lies inland in the Piana di Gioia Tauro, at the foot of the Aspromonte. From the A2 Autostrada del Mediterraneo take the Gioia Tauro or Rosarno exit and head inland; from the Ionian side the easiest route is the Jonio-Tirreno road (SS 682). It is about twenty minutes by car from the Tyrrhenian coast, which makes the festival easy to combine with a few days by the sea on the Costa Viola. If you want to stay overnight, you will find holiday homes and apartments in the area in the rentals section; local shops, services and venues are listed among the businesses in Cittanova, and other events in the area are in the events calendar.

Frequently asked questions

When is the 2026 Feast of the Rosary in Cittanova?

The public celebrations take place on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 October 2026, as part of the religious programme that runs throughout October.

Where are the concerts held?

In Piazza Stazione, Cittanova (Reggio Calabria). The Sanctuary of Maria SS. del Rosario, on Piazza Don Domenico Tropeano, is a few minutes' walk away.

Who is playing on Saturday 10 October?

At 10 pm Lo Strano Percorso – 883 Tribute Band, playing the songs of Max Pezzali and 883, followed by a DJ set from DJ Cosmi.

What happens on Sunday 11 October?

The Voglio Tornare Negli Anni '90 live show, devoted to the music of the 1990s, followed by a fireworks display. The festival programme says 10 pm and the tour listing 9.30 pm, so it is best to arrive early.

Do I need to pay to attend the shows?

No, the concerts in the square are free and no booking is required. Only food and drinks at the fair and street-food stands are paid for separately.

What is the Rosary Fair?

It is the market with stalls that accompanies the festival: in 2026 it runs on both Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 October, together with Rosario Street Food.

Why is Our Lady of the Rosary celebrated in October?

The liturgical memorial falls on 7 October and recalls the victory at Lepanto in 1571, attributed to the intercession of the Virgin invoked through the Rosary; this is why October is the month of the Rosary.

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