In Gardone Riviera, set against the evocative backdrop of the Vittoriale degli Italiani, the six-hundredth edition of the Antichissima Fiera delle Grazie in Curtatone was presented, an event scheduled to take place from August 14 to 17. This significant gathering for the region and the Lake Garda area also includes the 51st National Meeting of Madonnari, centered around the theme “The Madonnas of the World,” taking place on August 14 and 15. The choice of the lakeside location for the presentation highlights the intention to forge connections between various cultural and territorial realities, reinforcing the event’s vocation beyond provincial borders.
The event saw the participation of several institutional and cultural figures, including Carlo Bottani, Mayor of Curtatone and President of the Province of Mantova, Annalisa Baroni and Pierlucio Ceresa from the Garda Community, Mauro Carrozza, President of GardaMusei, Enrico Volpi, Mayor of Castiglione delle Stiviere, and Giordano Bruno Guerri, President of the Vittoriale degli Italiani.
A Bridge between Mincio and Garda: Recognitions and Collaborations
The location of the Fiera delle Grazie aligns with the Garda area, extending into the Mincio Regional Park, a protected area that stretches over 70 kilometers from the Lake Garda to its confluence with the Po River.
During the fair, Mariastella Gelmini, in her role as President of the Garda Community, will receive the “Fior di Loto” award. This recognition is conferred by the Municipality of Curtatone to individuals distinguished for their commitment to promoting culture, environmental sustainability, and the social and economic development of the territory. The award will be presented on the evening of August 15.
Giordano Bruno Guerri, President of the Vittoriale, will serve as honorary president of the jury for the 51st National Meeting of Madonnari. The jury, composed of art historians, experts, and ecclesiastical representatives, will evaluate works dedicated to the theme “The Madonnas of the World.” Carlo Bottani emphasized that the presentation at the Vittoriale is a concrete sign of the desire for cross-territorial collaborations, a path initiated with the Province of Mantova’s membership in GardaMusei.
The Ephemeral Art of Madonnari and International Vocation
This year’s edition will feature 118 chalk artists, including 28 from foreign countries such as the United States, Mexico, Canada, Japan, Ecuador, Paraguay, Serbia, Germany, and the Netherlands. Twelve category-winning master madonnari will collaborate on a collective work outside of the competition, conceived by 3D street art master Kurt Wenner. This special creation will be realized in front of the Sanctuary and, inspired by an original sketch by Wenner, will symbolize a “Holy Door of Jubilee for Artists,” accessible to visitors. Wenner’s presence confirms the international prestige of the event, recognized as the most important worldwide for madonnari art.
The forecourt of the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of Graces will transform into an open-air art gallery, where madonnari will depict Marian icons venerated around the world. This form of sacred and popular street art, though ephemeral, unites Christian tradition and rituals present in various cultures, finding its international capital in Grazie with a focus on Marian iconography. The official image of the six-hundredth anniversary, created by Michela Bogoni, the 2024 winner in the “Paradise” category, portrays three Marian faces of different ethnicities in an embrace of peace and hope, with the Sanctuary and its iconic crocodile in the background.
Events and Traditions in the Heart of the Village of Grazie
The small village of Grazie, listed among the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy, blends the sacred and the profane in a unique atmosphere during Ferragosto. In addition to madonnari art and spirituality, the Fair offers a rich program of events: book presentations, author meetings, performances, evening concerts of sacred music, jazz, and pop, culminating in a grand pyromusical finale. The fair stalls will animate the village streets with a wide range of products. There will also be moments of folklore with musicians and flag-wavers to evoke the origins of the Fair, which began in 1425 at the behest of Marquis Gianfrancesco Gonzaga, who established a free market in conjunction with the feast of the Assumption of Mary.
Grazie is also home to the Museum of Madonnari, located in Piazzale Santuario, which preserves and promotes this ephemeral art through original works and illustrative panels. Additionally, a “diffused urban museum” displays reproductions of madonnari works on public and private buildings, promoting the art throughout the year.
A Journey through Nature and Local Flavors
The village of Grazie, with its Gothic Lombard-style Sanctuary, the Mincio River, and the natural reserve it hosts, offers visitors an experience that combines Marian devotion, natural beauty, and local traditions. The Sanctuary, erected in 1399, houses a vast collection of ex-votos and the famous life-size polychrome figures, along with the well-known stuffed crocodile hanging from the ceiling.
The Fiera delle Grazie takes place in the Mincio Regional Park, an ecosystem rich in reeds, lotus flowers, and aquatic birds. In summer, the blooming of the lotus flowers transforms the waters of the Mincio into a captivating spectacle, attracting numerous visitors. During the Fair, boat trips will be available to admire this natural scenery up close.
The event is also an opportunity to discover the authentic flavors of the territory, particularly the Cotechino delle Grazie De.Co., a typical sausage of Mantuan tradition. This product, light and flavorful, is traditionally enjoyed in a sandwich, accompanied by a glass of Lambrusco Mantovano. The Mantua Food brand enhances and promotes the agri-food excellences of the province of Mantova.
Italian Version
