The Festival of Voto

On Monday January 19, 2026, Ampezzo renews one of its oldest and most cherished traditions: the Festival of Voto to Our Lady of Defense, a celebration that has united faith, history, and community identity for over six hundred years.

The ULd’A – Union of the Ladins of Anpezo invites guests and citizens to participate in the solemn Holy Mass at 10:00 AM at the Shrine of Our Lady of Defense.

In the afternoon, at 4:00 PM, the solemn Vespers will take place.

The population is invited to attend the morning celebration wearing the traditional festival costume, a living sign of belonging and continuity.

The event originates from January 19, 1412, when the Ampezzo community made a vow of thanksgiving to the Virgin Mary for the protection received during a time of serious military tensions. An unexpected event, interpreted as miraculous, deeply marked popular devotion, giving rise to a tradition that has been passed down through the centuries.

Alongside the history, there lives the legend of the “Madonna dei Goti”, which tells of the miraculous intervention of the Virgin to defend the valley. This story is beautifully depicted in the fresco of the ceiling of the Shrine, created by Valentino Rovisi, from the Tiepolo workshop.

The Festival of Voto remains today a moment of profound gratitude and shared memory, where Ampezzo gathers under the protective gaze of the Madonna of Defense.