Agosto Mottese

A festival that brings the village on the Alcantara to life

Agosto Mottese is the summer series with which the Municipality of Motta Camastra, in the province of Messina, entertains residents, tourists, and vacationers throughout the month of August. The program weaves together cultural events, musical performances, street parties, and recreational activities that transform the historic center into a widespread stage, week after week, until the first days of September.

The setting: Motta Camastra and the Alcantara Gorges

Motta Camastra is a small medieval village in eastern Sicily, carved into the rock guarding the Alcantara Valley. Within its territory lie the famous Alcantara Gorges, lava basalt canyons born from the eruptions of Mount Etna and shaped over millennia by river erosion: a unique natural setting that frames the summer in Motta and attracts visitors from the entire Taormina area. The town, also linked to the local cinematic imagination, preserves an authentic identity made of narrow alleys, religious traditions, and rural culture.

The summer program

Every week in August is dedicated to different shows and activities. The schedule typically includes:

• Musical evenings and concerts in the village squares;
• Street parties and community gatherings;
• Activities and workshops for children and families;
• Cultural events dedicated to local traditions and the promotion of the territory.

The religious heart: Montalto and Saint Michael

The most deeply felt moment of the season coincides with the patronal feasts. On the penultimate Sunday of August, the feast of Maria Santissima di Montalto, protector of Motta Camastra, is celebrated with a solemn procession of the statue through the streets of the town and the arrival of the faithful from neighboring centers. The following day is dedicated to Saint Michael the Archangel, patron of the village, also honored with a highly attended procession. These two events represent the devotional and identity-defining peak of Agosto Mottese.

A summer to experience

Between music, popular devotion, and the extraordinary nature of the Alcantara Gorges, Agosto Mottese offers a village-scale summer, ideal for those seeking the most authentic Sicily away from the most crowded destinations. The events take place in the historic center of Motta Camastra, in the heart of the Metropolitan City of Messina.