Acchianata 'a Madonna

A sacred performance renewed every August 15th

In the heart of the Madonie mountains, at an altitude of over 1,000 metres, the town of San Mauro Castelverde in the province of Palermo preserves one of the most evocative religious traditions of inland Sicily: the Acchianata 'a Madonna. On the evening of August 15th, the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, the church of Santa Maria de' Francis becomes a true sacred stage, where faith and ancient mechanical artistry blend into a spectacle that draws both local residents and visitors.

How the ascent to heaven unfolds

At the centre of the performance is the statue of the Virgin, which is lifted upward by a very old and precious mechanism of winches, ropes, and pulleys. A 19th-century scenic apparatus opens with curtains and clouds that gradually part to reveal a pair of angels bearing a crown of stars; as they descend from above, the angels signal the opening of the Madonna's tomb. From that moment, the Blessed Virgin, surrounded by angels, begins her ascent to heaven, accompanied by ancient religious chants.

The two great performances of the local people

The Acchianata 'a Madonna is, along with the visarìa of Good Friday (the Way of the Cross that starts from the parish of Santa Maria de' Francis and ends at the mother church of San Giorgio), one of the two great sacred performances of San Mauro Castelverde. Unlike the visarìa, the characters here are not played by real people but consist of statues and painted wooden figures, a technique that makes this event unique in the landscape of Madonie festivals.

The church of Santa Maria de' Francis

The setting for the event is the church of Santa Maria de' Francis, built around 1260, which houses remarkable works of art, including the 1480 statue of the Madonna del Soccorso attributed to Domenico Gagini and a baptismal font from the Gagini school. The 16th-century space, with its vaults and altars, amplifies the effect of the ascent and the singing.

The village of sundials in the Madonie

San Mauro Castelverde stands at about 1,050 metres above sea level, overlooking the valleys of the Madonie Park. It is known as the village of sundials due to the numerous solar clocks painted on the buildings of the historic centre, and it is listed among the authentic villages of Sicily. Visiting the town on August 15th means combining the sacred performance with a stroll through stone alleys, mountain panoramas, and traditional Madonie cuisine.

An event of deep identity

• Fixed date: the evening of August 15th, feast of the Assumption
• Location: church of Santa Maria de' Francis, historic centre of San Mauro Castelverde
• A centuries-old tradition of the local people, alongside the Good Friday visarìa
• Free admission, a religious and community event

The dates and details for the 2026 edition have not yet been officially announced, but the event, tied to the fixed date of August 15th, takes place every year.