Sagra del Fuoco in Recco: Schedule, Fireworks, and How to Get There

Recco – At half past three in the morning, sleep is out of the question: that’s when seven city districts greet their Madonna with volleys from old mortars. The Sagra del Fuoco, The patronal feast in honor of Nostra Signora del Suffragio, the city’s patron saint, will take place on Monday, September 7, and Tuesday, September 8, 2026. On both evenings at 11:00 p.m., the neighborhoods will set off their fireworks from the harbor piers, and there will also be a daytime fireworks display on September 8. Here’s what’s happening, when, how to get there, and what to expect on the evening of the festival.

When will the Sagra del Fuoco 2026 take place?

The two main festival days are September 7 and 8, 2026. However, the festivities begin as early as August 29, when the Arca, the processional shrine bearing the statue of the Madonna, enters the Santuario—the pilgrimage church of Recco—under the watchful eyes of the seven city districts. Starting on September 5, the neighborhood food stands will open in the evenings, and on September 6, the Filarmonica Gioacchino Rossini, Recco’s town band, will perform in the church square.

September 8 is no ordinary holiday in Recco. On this day in 1824, the statue of the Madonna was solemnly crowned, and ever since, the town’s festival calendar has revolved around this date. The official motto is simply: Recco, September 8.

Seven quarters, seven fireworks displays

For the festival, Recco is divided into seven “quartieri” (as the city’s neighborhoods are called here): Bastia, Collodari, Liceto, Ponte, San Martino, Spiaggia, and Verzemma. Each district hires its own fireworks company, each gets its own display, and each wants to be louder and more spectacular than its neighbors. This division dates back to the early 20th century, whereas the name “Sagra del Fuoco” is less than thirty years old.

On the night of September 8, Spiaggia will begin at 11:00 p.m. from the West Pier, followed by San Martino and, from the East Pier across the way, Liceto. The following night, it will be Bastia, Ponte, and Collodari’s turn. Verzemma is an exception and will be set off on September 8 at 1:00 p.m., in the middle of the day.

If you look at the names of the companies in the program, you’ll see a map of the Italian pyrotechnics industry: Sant’Antimo and Acerra near Naples, Visciano, Pannarano in the Sannio region, Cava de‘ Tirreni, Bagheria near Palermo, and Arquà Polesine in the Veneto region. Anyone who’s anyone in the industry comes to Recco.

What are the mascoli?

The mascoli These are old Ligurian mortars, firmly anchored in the ground, which do not send fireworks into the sky but instead thunder in rhythmic succession. They are not merely an accompaniment to the fireworks display but the older part of the festival. On the Riviera di Levante, the coast east of Genoa, such salutes of honor have been documented since at least the 17th century; in Recco, evidence dates back to the early 1400s and has been linked from the very beginning to the veneration of the Suffragina, as the people of Recco call their Madonna.

In the church of Megli, a neighborhood high above the coast, there is a votive panel dating from around 1700: it depicts a man wearing a tricorn hat watching such a volley. And in 1896, in his *Storia di Recco*, the priest Giacomo Olcese wrote that on September 8, an extraordinary number of visitors come to the town. So this festival has been drawing crowds for quite some time.

The mascoli are lit in the stream bed in front of the Santuario—at 12:30 p.m. by Verzemma and at midnight by San Martino—as well as along the procession route on the evening of September 8.

The Suffragina and September 8

The Santuario di Nostra Signora del Suffragio on Via Roma has been dedicated to the Vergine del Suffragio since 1710; devotion to her in Recco dates back even further and can be traced to before 1557. On September 8, 1824, Cardinal Luigi Lambruschini solemnly crowned the statue on behalf of the Vatican Chapter; in 2000, the church was designated as the Jubilee Church of the Diocese of Genoa.

It is remarkable that this festival is still held at all. Starting on November 10, 1943, Recco was bombed 27 times; 127 people died, and the town lay in ruins. September 8, however, endured, and the neighborhoods have reclaimed it.

How do you get to Recco?

By train. Recco is located along the Genoa–La Spezia coastline; the train station is within walking distance of the harbor, and the municipality has announced additional trains operated by Trenitalia and the bus company AMT for the fireworks evenings. The Genoa airport is about 30 kilometers away; take the Recco exit on the A12.

On September 7 and 8, however, driving is still the worse choice. During the festival, no-parking zones and changes to pedestrian and vehicle routes will be in effect in accordance with the safety regulations issued by the mayor and the city police; therefore, the Monday market on September 7 is canceled. For details on which streets are closed, contact the city police at +39 0185 7291283; for tourist information, contact Pro Loco, the local tourism association, at +39 0185 722440.

The third option is by water. The Golfo Paradiso ferry company runs trips out to the fireworks on both evenings, but they depart from Genoa and Camogli—the neighboring town on the Portofino Peninsula—not from Recco. From the boat, you can see both piers at the same time, and you’ll save yourself the trip back through the crowd.

What to Expect on the Evening of the Celebration

There’s one rule you should know before packing any drinks: For the holidays, the municipality has restricted the sale, consumption, and carrying of alcoholic beverages with an alcohol content of more than 5 percent, as well as beverages in glass and metal containers, effective August 12, 2026. This restriction does not apply to beverages served at neighborhood stands.

Good to know: It gets loud—louder than any fireworks display you’ve ever seen. The mascoli are pure explosions, coming in rapid succession, and they echo between the rows of houses. Small children need ear protection, and those with sensitive ears should keep their distance. The best places to do both are out on the water or on one of the streets above the town, from where you’ll have a better view of the piers anyway than from the front row on the Lungomare, Recco’s waterfront promenade.

Focaccia di Recco, the other local specialty

Recco isn't just known for fireworks. The Focaccia di Recco col formaggio has held European protection as a Protected Geographical Indication since January 14, 2015. Two paper-thin sheets of dough, with fresh soft cheese in between, a few minutes in a very hot oven—and it’s ready. The designation also protects the region: Recco itself and the neighboring municipalities of Avegno, Sori, and Camogli.

You won't need to look for a restaurant during the festival. Every neighborhood runs its own food stand with a themed menu, every evening starting September 5. If you want to recreate these dishes at home, the recipe is available at Recipe for Focaccia di Recco with us.

Is the trip to the Sagra del Fuoco worth it?

If you view fireworks as a craft rather than just background noise, it’s well worth the trip. Seven shows over two nights, put on by seven different companies, all set against the same harbor basin—plus a festival that has honored the same Madonna for centuries: you won’t find anything like this on any other coast in Italy. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a quiet late-summer evening by the sea, you’re better off going a week later or heading to the neighboring towns along the Ligurian Riviera from.

Your next step: Mark your calendar for September 7 and 8, check the detailed schedule on the website of the Comitato Sagra del Fuoco, which organizes the festivities, and, if you want to watch from the water, reserve your boat spot early. To find out what else is happening in the region, check out our overview of the Events in Liguria. For the day after, you might want to consider Genoa, the fishing village Bogliasco and the bay of San Fruttuoso with its seaside abbey, which you can reach only on foot or by boat.
The program, times, and prices are subject to change. Please check the details on the official websites of the Comitato and the municipality before your trip.