PRESS RELEASE (6/29/2016)
A Loano will kick off Thursday, June 30 celebrations for the traditional religious festival of the July 2 dedicated to the Our Lady of the Visitation, organized by the Brotherhood SS. Rosary (Cappe Turchine) under the auspices of the’Department of Tourism, Culture and Sports of the City of Loano.
Thursday, June 30, The concert “Waiting for July 2” which will take place in the’Prince's Garden Summer Arena at 21,45.
The protagonist will be the band of the’St. Mary Immaculate Music Association which will perform a varied program, ranging from classical music to band repertoire to film soundtracks.
The concert will open with A. Vessella's “Vecchia Marcia Militare” (Old Military March), followed by J. Williams“ ”The Olympic Spirit,’ in honor of the upcoming Olympic Games. The evening's program will continue with the Overture from the opera “The Magic Flute” by W. A. Mozart, “The Sphinx” by F. Agnello, “West Side Story” by L. Bernstein, arr. N. Iwai, the Overture from the opera “Tancredi” by G. Rossini, “A Joyful Journey” by R. Sheldon, and will close with “Don't Cry for Me Argentina” by A. L. Webber.
Friday, July 1, to the 9 p.m., Msgr. Guglielmo Borghetti Bishop Coadjutor of the Diocese of Albenga-Imperia will celebrate Holy Mass, followed by a night vigil.
Saturday, July 2, to the 11 a.m., a solemn Mass will be celebrated by Msgr. Antonio Suetta Bishop Of the Diocese of Ventimiglia-San Remo.
At 8 p.m., in Italy Square The ancient tradition of throwing the “balloon” (hot air balloon), edited by the’Friends of Bellissimo Association of Dolcedo.
From 8:30 pm, in the streets of the center will take place the procession that will see the Brotherhoods from all over Liguria accompanied by the Band Corps of the’St. Mary Immaculate Music Association of Loano and the G. Moretti Band of Pietra Ligure.
From over four hundred years the Turchine Hoods bring to life each year this religious festival, which is deeply felt by the people of Loano. The origins of the July 2 holiday date back to the 1637: On the night between July 1 and July 2, on the horizon of Loano The ships of the Barbary pirates appeared, ready to put the city to fire and sword. The inhabitants, realizing the imminent danger, prayed to Our Lady of the Visitation and went out in procession with torches, candles, banners, and crucifixes. In the darkness of the night, the movement of lights and poles frightened the pirates, who mistakenly believed they were facing a defensive garrison, so they gave up the attack. Since then, on July 2, for Loano Is a day of celebration.
La July 2 holiday is also called the Sea Festival, because on this occasion the sculptural group representing the Our Lady of the Visitation, carried on the shoulder by the confraternity of the Blue Hats, makes a stop to offer a special tribute to the sea. Ligurian confraternities with their crucifixes, featuring sumptuous decorations, will parade in the procession, and the statuary group depicting the Virgin with St. Elizabeth, St. Joseph and St. Zechariah, covered with the golds donated for grace received or invoked. Luminaries on the window sills of the will welcome the procession in the historic center.
The fraternities will move from Italy Square and through Doria Street they will reach the waterfront.
A first stop will be made at the “Sea workers” cottage, where the bearers will make the first “brassa!”, “issa!”, “brassa!”, repeated three times, to raise high and lower the “cassa” for the “salute”. The second and longer stop will be in Mazzini Square for the “blessing” to the sea. Suggestive more than anything else is the moment when dozens of bearers, arms outstretched in the effort, raise the statuary group above their heads and lower it three times, in the “greeting or blessing to the sea.”, Which is a tribute to those who have lost their lives in the hard work of the sea
After the blessing, the procession will resume its journey through the streets of the historic center to return to Italy Square.
