Fiera delle Grazie

Fiera delle Grazie: An Ancient Tradition Between Art, Faith and Folklore in Mantua

In the picturesque village of Grazie, a hamlet of Curtatone (MN), an event steeped in history, art and popular devotion is renewed every year: the Antichissima Fiera delle Grazie. This event, whose origins are lost in time and which was established way back in 1425 by the Marquis Gianfrancesco Gonzaga, celebrates the Assumption of Mary around August 15, attracting tens of thousands of visitors from everywhere.

The focus of the Fair is the majestic Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of Graces, an architectural jewel erected at the end of the 14th century. It is right in the churchyard of this sacred place that the magic of the Madonnara art takes place. Since 1973, in fact, the Fair of Grace has hosted the National Meeting of the Madonnari, a unique event of its kind that sees chalk artists, coming from every corner of Italy and from numerous foreign countries, transform the flooring into extraordinary open-air canvases. Their works, real ephemeral masterpieces, tell stories of faith, sacred characters and allegories, created with skill and passion, under the admiring eyes of the public. It is a suggestive experience to witness the birth of these creations, destined to vanish with the first rains, to symbolize the transience of existence and the beauty of the present moment.

In addition to the performance of the Madonnari and the spirituality linked to the Sanctuary, the Fair of Grace is also a riot of popular traditions. Thousands of people reach the village on foot, recalling ancient pilgrimages, in an atmosphere of sharing and celebration. The air is filled with the typical scents of local cuisine, where the inevitable cotechino delle Grazie reigns supreme, a product de.Co. served in abundance with fresh bread and Lambrusco, the true culinary symbol of the event.

The Fair of Grace is, in short, an event that harmoniously combines the most refined street art, deep religious devotion and the most authentic roots of Mantuan popular culture, offering an unforgettable experience to anyone who wishes to immerse themselves in a unique and fascinating atmosphere.

To view the video it is necessary to accept cookies experience, metering, marketing

Useful information for your visit to the Fiera delle Grazie

To make the most of your experience at the Antichissima Fiera delle Grazie, here's all the practical information you might need.

Where and When

The Fair takes place annually in the charming village of Grazie di Curtatone (MN). The heart of the event is the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Graces, located in:

Piazza Santuario, 4 - 46010 Grazie di Curtatone (MN)

The event is traditionally held around mid-August; specifically, the 2026 edition will take place from 13 to 16 August.

National Madonnari Meeting: the 140 artists will be working in the churchyard from 13 to 15 August. It’s a unique opportunity to see them at work!
Madonnari Museum: Generally open from 10.00 to 12.00 and from 14.00 to 19.00 throughout the duration of the fair
Market area: open from 14 to 16 August from 07.00 to midnight; this year it will host nearly 200 stalls
Funfair: Open from 14 to 16 August from 7.00 am to midnight; this year there will be 19 operators and 35 rides.

How to Get There and Park

Given the estimated 100,000 visitors expected, the fair organisers have put in place various options for reaching the area and for parking.

Pay-and-display car parks: A short distance from the Sanctuary, you’ll find spacious car parks for both cars and motorbikes, which are pay-and-display and equipped with card payment terminals. Please follow the signs carefully at the entrance to the village.
Shuttle bus: Shuttle bus services run to the car park at the Il Gigante shopping centre
Campervan parking areas: For those travelling by campervan, a campervan parking area is available at Via della Fiera 10/11 in Grazie di Curtatone. We recommend checking availability and specific rates for the duration of the Fair in advance.
Accessibility: Parking spaces reserved for visitors with reduced mobility will be provided. You will need to display your disabled parking permit.

Given the expected crowds, you may encounter traffic. We recommend that you always follow the instructions of traffic marshals and consider using public transport or shuttle buses, if available, for easier access.

In case of emergency

Two medical ambulances and one veterinary ambulance will be on site

Connectivity

Thanks to our partnership with MyNet, the Wi-Fi network has been upgraded to ensure better connectivity throughout the event and to make the experience more enjoyable for visitors, staff and participants.

What to Taste

You can’t leave the Fair without having tasted the famous Cotechino delle Grazie De.Co., a typical local speciality. You’ll find numerous stalls selling it, traditionally served in a roll and accompanied by a glass of Lambrusco Mantovano.

The 52nd National Meeting of the Madonnari

2026 will mark the 52nd National Gathering of Madonnari, the world’s most famous and inspiring event dedicated to the art of chalk drawing.

Once again this year, 140 Madonnari from every corner of the globe will transform the churchyard of the Santuario delle Grazie into a vast open-air artistic and spiritual journey.

The theme, "The Message of St Francis in the Colours of the Madonnari", will see the artists interpret the universal values of the Saint of Assisi through the expressive power and delicacy of an ephemeral art form that speaks to the heart.

The Fair of Grace 2025: An Extraordinary Year for 600 Years of History, Faith and Art

Get ready to experience an unforgettable edition of the Antichissima Fiera delle Grazie! From 14 to 17 August 2025, the village of Grazie di Curtatone (MN), one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, celebrates an extraordinary milestone: its 600th anniversary.

Fair of Grace 2024: The Madonnarians Play the Divine Comedy

In 2024, the Antichissima Fiera delle Grazie hosted a particularly suggestive edition of its National Meeting of the Madonnari. From 14 to 18 August, the churchyard of the Sanctuary of Grace was transformed into an immense open-air canvas, dedicated to Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy.

The Fair of Grace 2023: A Mid-August between Art and Tradition

The Ancient Fair of Grace animated the village of Curtatone in 2023. From 12 to 16 August, the event celebrated its rich history and vibrant traditions, culminating in the heart of the mid-August celebrations.

The Museo dei Madonnari: Keeper of an Ephemeral Art

In the heart of the village of Grazie, a few steps from the famous Sanctuary, there is a unique and fascinating place: the Museo dei Madonnari. This exhibition space is entirely dedicated to ephemeral art that, every year, comes to life in the churchyard on the occasion of the National Meeting of the Madonnari.

Through reproductions on panels and cards, the Museum offers an overview of the works carried out in the past years, allowing us to appreciate the technique, mastery and devotion that animate every single drawing. It is a precious opportunity to deepen the knowledge of an art that lives in the moment, but that leaves an indelible mark on the soul of those who observe it.

Thanks to Curtatone: On the Podium of “Il Borgo dei Borghi”!

The village of Grazie di Curtatone is not only the guardian of an ancient fair and thousand-year-old art; it is also a jewel recognized nationally. In 2024, Grazie won an exceptional third place in the famous television program “Il Borgo dei Borghi”, an award that underlines the indisputable beauty, historical richness and authenticity that make it one of the “most beautiful villages in Italy”.
Watch the report on RaiPlay: Il Borgo dei Borghi

The result of “Il Borgo dei Borghi” turned the spotlight on Grazie, inviting even more visitors to discover its traditions, to walk through historic streets and to immerse themselves in an atmosphere where faith, art and nature come together in an unforgettable experience.
BorgodiGrazie.it

The Refurbished Campus

This welcoming spirit is reflected in an increasingly comfortable and well-equipped Madonnari Campus, with a wide range of facilities designed to provide the best possible support for the artists who come to Grazie every year. In the garden adjacent to the school, a new structure has been built, open on three sides and with a covered area of around 100 square metres, including toilets, changing rooms and facilities that are fully accessible to people with disabilities, as well as amenities such as fridges and water dispensers.

In the neighbouring area, a marquee has been set up to provide overnight accommodation, alongside additional spaces dedicated to tent camping. Rounding off the facilities is the return of the ‘Punto Benessere’, where a massage therapist offers free treatments to the Madonnari during the event, whilst free lunch and dinner are provided for all artists on 14 and 15 August.