Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes

The Marian Feast of Gliaca di Piraino

The Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes is the heart of the devotional life in Gliaca, a seaside village in the municipality of Piraino, in the province of Messina, overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea at the foot of the Nebrodi Park. The community gathers around the parish dedicated to the Blessed Virgin of Lourdes, led by Father Antonio Mancuso, in a celebration that weaves together popular faith, tradition, and care for the sick.

February 11th: World Day of the Sick

The highlight falls on February 11th, the liturgical memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes and World Day of the Sick. This day is entirely dedicated to the infirm and the elderly of the community: morning masses are followed by the communal celebration of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, while at noon the parish hall hosts a fraternal lunch for the elderly. In the late afternoon, the statue of the Madonna is carried in a candlelight procession through the streets of Gliaca, accompanied by a marching band, creating an intense display of light in which many sick people participate.

A devotion that spans the year

Alongside the winter recurrence, the community of Gliaca celebrates a summer festival for the Blessed Virgin of Lourdes, usually on the first weekend of August, featuring a solemn procession of the statue along Via del Sole and evening entertainment in Piazza Quasimodo. It is in this setting that the village opens up to the public with free concerts by nationally renowned artists, entertainment, cabaret, and fireworks, attracting visitors from across the Nebrodi region and the Messina Tyrrhenian coast.

Piraino, the village of the two towers

Piraino is known as the "village of the two towers" for its ancient coastal fortifications and overlooks a stretch of coastline between Capo d'Orlando and Brolo from above. The Gliaca festival is a great opportunity to discover this corner of the Nebrodi, between the sea, historic villages, and authentic Sicilian gastronomy.