The Balunetti In honor of the Patron Saint's Day

Every March 17th, on the eve of the feast of the patron saint, Our Lady of Mercy, the people of Savona hang characteristic paper lanterns lit with flames or small light bulbs from their windows and balconies.

The tradition of the Balunetti has ancient origins and is rooted in a miracle attributed to the Virgin Mary: it is said that a fishing boat found itself in the middle of the sea on a dark, stormy night. Far from the lights of the coast (electricity had not yet been invented), the fishermen had lost their way and considered themselves doomed. While everyone prayed, terrified and certain of imminent death, one of them invoked Mary's help. Suddenly, the sighting of a light floating on the water rekindled the hopes of the desperate group, who rowed hard to reach that tiny flame that miraculously led them to shore and safety.

From that moment on, light and fire became the protagonists of the eve of the feast of the Madonna, and for the occasion, Savona shines with the light of the Balunetti and the illuminations dedicated to the event: along the road to the Sanctuary, large luminous "M"s and other decorations can be seen. Already the chronicles that spread in the run-up to the Apparition of the Madonna to the farmer Botta (1536) tell of fires lit during the night in the Letimbro valley. The large influx of people who traveled up the stream in those days needed to be shown the direction to follow to reach the place where Mary had revealed herself, and a little heat to warm themselves.

Once upon a time, for the occasion, the wealthier families displayed candles on their windowsills, while the less well-off placed oil lights there.

On March 18th, early in the morning, the procession gathers and passes through the city center until reaching the Sanctuary square, along an 8 km route that includes prayer stops at the 9 votive chapels along the way.

Strolling through the city streets in search of the brightest windows is a unique experience, a bridge between past and present, between faith and tradition.

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