Domenica in Albis Festival (Duminica Nuedda)

One of Capizzi's most beloved festivals

The Domenica in Albis Festival, which everyone in Capizzi calls by its dialect name 'Duminica Nuedda' (the Sunday of the Good News), is one of the most heartfelt religious observances in this mountain village in the province of Messina, nestled at an altitude of approximately 1,100 meters in the heart of the Nebrodi Park. It is celebrated annually on the Sunday after Easter, coinciding with the Feast of Divine Mercy, and involves the entire community in a day of faith, tradition, and folklore.

Historical origins

Devotion to the Madonna delle Grazie in Capizzi dates back to 1648, when Philip IV of Spain, sovereign of Sicily, decreed that all cities housing Marian images should bring their statues to their main churches on the Domenica in Albis for a novena in honor of the Virgin, Queen of Peace. The exquisite statue of the Madonna delle Grazie venerated in Capizzi was crafted in Rome in 1769, commissioned by Baron Russo. Since then, the festival has been passed down from generation to generation, preserving its character as a popular, communal rite.

The seven brotherhoods

The heart of the Duminica Nuedda is the participation of all seven brotherhoods of the town, each identified by its own colors and distinctive insignia. The members wear a traditional habit consisting of a white robe, a hooded cape with a visor, a sash, and gloves. Each brotherhood carries its own symbols: drums, banners, pennants, flags, torches, crucifixes, and staves. At the sound of the bell, the members gather at their respective headquarters before converging at the Mother Church of San Nicola di Bari.

The procession and the ex-votos

Following the solemn morning Mass, the long procession winds through the village, accompanying the statues of Saint John Bosco and the Madonna delle Grazie to the church dedicated to the Virgin, where litanies and the Salve Regina are recited. Along the route, the faithful offer money and gold ex-votos, and the statues are adorned with gold and jewelry, a living testament to popular devotion. It is a spectacle of color, sound, and contemplation that makes the Duminica Nuedda one of the most authentic identity-defining events in the Nebrodi region.

Capizzi, a village of the Nebrodi

Capizzi is one of the highest municipalities in Sicily, an ancient agricultural center at the foot of Mount Pomiere, home to the sanctuary of Saint James the Apostle, one of the oldest on the island. Visiting the village during the Duminica Nuedda means discovering a corner of authentic Sicily, defined by centuries-old religious traditions, mountain landscapes, and communal warmth.