Feast of Maria Santissima della Stella

A centuries-old devotion in the heart of the Val di Noto

The Feast of Maria Santissima della Stella is the most important religious and popular event in Militello in Val di Catania, a splendid Baroque village in the Province of Catania, recognized as part of the UNESCO World Heritage late-Baroque towns of the Val di Noto. The Madonna della Stella is the town's principal patron saint, and her veneration has been documented since the first half of the 15th century, making this festival one of the oldest and most deeply rooted Marian traditions in eastern Sicily.

The Sanctuary and the statue

The heart of the celebration is the majestic Sanctuary of Santa Maria della Stella, built in the 18th century following the 1693 Val di Noto earthquake and declared a Diocesan Marian Sanctuary in 1969. Inside, it houses the precious wooden statue of the Virgin, a work from the early 17th century, placed in its historic processional carriage. The entire devotion of the local people and the numerous faithful who visit the Calatino village every year revolves around this sacred image.

The stages of the festival

The festival unfolds over a calendar of nearly three weeks, from August 29th to September 16th, marked by traditional rites deeply felt by the community:

• August 29th — "The Cantata": Opening of the novena with the procession of the painting of the Madonna through the city streets, accompanied by the traditional song that announces the approach of the feast.
• September 6th: The evocative procession of the Relic from the ancient church of Santa Maria la Vetere to the Sanctuary.
• September 7th — "The Vigil": The expectant and moving unveiling of the statue on the church steps for the veneration of the faithful, with solemn First Vespers and moments of celebration in the square.
• September 8th — "The Feast": On the day of the Nativity of the Virgin, the most awaited moment takes place: the triumphant exit of the statue ("a nisciuta"), the long procession through the streets of the center with its characteristic stops, the votive "spugghiata" (undressing) of the children, and, in the evening, the grand fireworks display.
• September 16th — "The Octave": Solemn mass, final procession, and the return of the statue to its chapel, marking the official close of the festivities.

Tradition, faith, and identity

The Feast of the Madonna della Stella is not just a religious event: it is the moment when the entire community of Militello in Val di Catania, in Sicily, rediscovers its identity through devotional rites, a historical pageant evoking the ancient celebrations of the Branciforte princes, cultural events, folklore, and traditional gastronomy. A unique opportunity to experience the authentic soul of the Baroque Val di Noto and the intense popular religiosity of Sicily.