Madonna delle Grazie procession blesses Sorrento Peninsula in annual July celebration

On July 5‑6 the coastal towns of Piano di Sorrento and Positano marked the traditional Madonna delle Grazie festival. In Piano di Sorrento the statue of the Madonna was carried from Marina di Cassano through the town's historic streets, stopping for prayers at several chapels before the solemn Mass at San Michele. At noon the procession moved onto the sea, where the Madonna, aboard a small boat followed by decorated vessels, blessed the entire Sorrento Peninsula with splashes of water.

In Positano the celebration centred on the Chiesa Nuova, where a similar land procession winding through the narrow lanes was accompanied by the Giffoni Sei Casali concert band. The event highlighted the deep local identity and religious devotion of the Positano community, featuring historic altars, a restored basilian‑style church, and a festive atmosphere that blends faith, music, and coastal tradition.