Celebrations of Our Lady Madonna della Guardia

The celebrations, which occur every five years, originate from a historical event and have accompanied the life of the town through the centuries, crossing its changes and vicissitudes.
On the night between July 1 and 2, 1637, Borghetto was suddenly assaulted by a horde of Barbary pirates from Tunisia and Algeria, who during the 16th and 17th centuries plundered undefended villages, taking inhabitants hostage to demand large ransoms.
The attack occurred under the western gate called “della fontana”, above the arch of which stood a niche with the statue of the Madonna.
The pirates were repelled by the people of Borghetto who, proud of the victory achieved and grateful for their narrow escape, immediately attributed their salvation to the providential intervention of the Madonna.
The memory of that night was passed down from generation to generation and devotion towards the “heavenly guardian” grew ever stronger, so much so that from 1725 there is evidence of celebrations held in her honor.
With the passing of years, the celebrations in honor of the Madonna became an increasingly rooted tradition for the citizens of Borghetto, taking on the forms and dimensions of more recent times, and in 1895 a license was requested from the Holy See to celebrate her votive feast with special authority.
Thirty-five years later, on August 24, 1930, Pope Pius XI elected Our Lady della Guardia as patroness of the entire city and territory of Borghetto Santo Spirito, decreeing that the feast be celebrated on August 29.
The celebrations begin with the descent of the statue of the Madonna della Guardia, which is taken from its niche located on the arch of the homonymous square. Once the statue of the Madonna has descended, it is washed, “dressed festively” with a mantle and two crowns (one for her and one for the Child Jesus whom she holds in her arms) and taken to the oratory of San Giuseppe, where it will remain for a few days before being transferred in a brief procession to the parish church of San Matteo.
In the following days, the traditional procession by sea takes place, which accompanies the statue of Our Lady Madonna della Guardia to the Sanctuary of Sant’Antonio.
The route, particularly evocative, is also followed by land in a procession along the promenade, which concludes with the final stretch on foot to the Sanctuary of Sant’Antonio.
The celebrations end with the ceremony for the return of the Madonna della Guardia to her niche, where she is placed to watch over Borghetto for the next five years.