Feast of Maria SS. Annunziata

A celebration of faith and tradition in the Nebrodi

The Feast of Maria SS. Annunziata is one of the most deeply rooted religious events for the community of Capri Leone, a village of just over four thousand inhabitants nestled at an altitude of 400 meters in the Nebrodi mountains, in the province of Messina, Sicily. The celebration occurs every year on the last Sunday of July and is part of a weekend of intense devotion, following the festivities dedicated to Saint Costantino, the town's patron saint.

The procession of the statue

The heart of the festival is the procession of the statue of the Virgin Annunziata. At the end of the solemn mass, the effigy is placed on an ornate fercolo and accompanied by the faithful through the streets of the historic center. The religious procession, marked by a brass band and the participation of civil and religious authorities, winds through the town in an atmosphere of quiet reflection and popular celebration that involves the entire community.

The Church of Maria SS. Annunziata

The devotion has its roots in the Church of Maria SS. Annunziata, a 16th-century building whose construction is linked, according to local tradition, to the arrival in town of a fine marble sculpture of the Annunciation, a 1533 work attributed to the famous sculptor Antonello Gagini. This Renaissance masterpiece remains one of the artistic and identity-defining treasures of the Municipality of Capri Leone.

Shows and fireworks

Alongside the religious program, the festival offers a rich array of entertainment. The Sunday evening concludes with a live musical performance in the square and traditional fireworks, which attract numerous residents, emigrants returning for the summer, and visitors from neighboring towns in the Nebrodi and the Tyrrhenian coast.

A village to discover

Capri Leone offers the chance to discover an authentic corner of inland Sicily: from the historic center, you can enjoy panoramic views of the Aeolian Islands and the Tyrrhenian Sea, while the hamlet of Rocca di Capri Leone, suspended between sea and hills, preserves other churches and traditions. The Feast of Maria SS. Annunziata, with its intimate and deeply felt atmosphere, is an ideal opportunity to experience the culture and spirituality of the Nebrodi villages.