Feast of Maria SS. delle Grazie

The patronal feast of Terrasini

The Feast of Maria SS. delle Grazie is the most cherished celebration in Terrasini, a coastal town in the province of Palermo overlooking the Gulf of Castellammare in Sicily. Dedicated to the town's patron saint, the festival takes place every year from September 6th to 8th, serving as a moment for the entire Terrasini community to unite around their religious and civic traditions.

The statue and the devotion

At the heart of the festival is the wooden statue of the Virgin, crafted in 1910 and housed in the Terrasini Cathedral, the mother church dedicated to Maria SS. delle Grazie. The statue is placed on the high altar at the start of the novena—the preparatory prayer that guides the faithful in the days leading up to the feast—before being carried in a solemn procession through the streets of the historic center, drawing both devotees and visitors.

Between the sacred and the popular

The festivities weave together religious and festive dimensions. Alongside liturgical celebrations—the novena, the descent of the statue, the solemn mass, and the procession—the program features concerts, musical performances, and entertainment, often hosted at the Villa a Mare amphitheater and along the town's seafront. The most spectacular moment is the traditional fireworks display, which concludes the festivities by illuminating the sky and sea of Terrasini.

A defining community event

For the people of Terrasini, the September feast is more than just a religious rite; it is a gathering that strengthens community bonds and welcomes back those who return to town for the occasion. Devotion to Maria SS. delle Grazie is rooted in the long history of the Cathedral, which falls under the Archdiocese of Monreale, and is renewed each year with the same intensity.

What to expect

• The novena and the descent of the wooden statue in the Cathedral
• The solemn mass and the procession of the statue through the historic center
• Evening concerts and musical performances
• The fireworks display on the seafront
• The festive atmosphere in the squares and streets of the town of Terrasini