Feast of Maria SS. Annunziata – Geraci in Fiore

A celebration of devotion and petals

The Feast of Maria SS. Annunziata is one of the most cherished events in Geraci Siculo, a medieval village in the Province of Palermo, nestled over a thousand meters above sea level in the heart of the Madonie Park, Sicily. Although the liturgical feast of the Annunciation falls on March 25th, by ancient tradition, the locals celebrate their co-patron saint on the second Sunday of July, when the mild mountain climate allows for a full experience of the procession and festivities.

The painting of the Gran Madre Annunziata

At the heart of the devotion is the precious painting of the Gran Madre Annunziata, housed in the Mother Church of Santa Maria Maggiore. The work, recently attributed by scholar Antonio Cuccia to the Tuscan painter Jacopo da Empoli (1551-1640), of the Vasarian school, is considered an authentic masterpiece of Italian Mannerism. On the day of the feast, following the solemn Eucharistic celebration in the Mother Church, the painting is placed on a vara (float) richly decorated with flowers and illuminated by small lights arranged around the frame.

The procession through the alleys

In the early afternoon, the procession begins, accompanying the sacred image along the streets of Geraci's historic center. The Confraternity of the Annunziata leads the parade, followed by the marching band and a crowd of faithful who arrive from neighboring Madonie towns. Religious, civil, and military authorities take part in the event, which concludes in the evening with a festive gathering in the square.

Geraci in Fiore: the art of petals

In recent years, the religious feast has been enriched by the Geraci in Fiore flower festival, which transforms the village's squares, open spaces, and churches into an open-air gallery. Master floral artists and local groups create large petal paintings and floral compositions dedicated to the Madonna and the themes of the year, creating a suggestive dialogue between faith, art, and popular tradition.

The village of the Madonie

The festival is also an opportunity to discover Geraci Siculo, an ancient fiefdom of the powerful Ventimiglia family and center of the County, now listed among the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy. Between castle ruins, churches, fountains, and stone alleys, visitors find one of the most authentic places in inland Sicily, immersed in the woods of the Madonie Park.