Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows

The Patron Saint of Lascari

In the heart of the Madonie, between Campofelice di Roccella and Cefalù, the small town of Lascari (Province of Palermo, Sicily) celebrates its most cherished event every year: the Feast of Maria Santissima Addolorata, the town's patron saint. Devotion to the Madonna, whom the locals affectionately call 'a Bedda Matri (the Beautiful Mother), is deeply rooted in the village's history and represents one of the community's strongest expressions of collective identity.

When it is celebrated

The patronal feast is traditionally held on the third Sunday of September, marking the ideal conclusion to the season of major religious festivals in Lascari, which also includes the Feast of Saint Joseph in March and that of the Most Holy Crucifix in summer. It is one of the oldest celebrations in the town and draws residents, returning emigrants, and faithful from neighboring Madonie villages to the streets of the historic center.

The Procession

The focal point is the procession of the statue of the Addolorata. After the Eucharistic celebration, the sacred effigy is carried along the streets and stairways of the village, followed by a large, emotional crowd of devotees. The procession winds through prayers and hymns, in an atmosphere of intense popular religiosity typical of Sicilian Marian feasts. In Lascari, the tradition of carrying sacred statues on shoulders by barefoot men dressed in white is a deeply ingrained custom in the town's processions.

A village between sea and mountains

Lascari grew around the ancient fortified settlement of Santa Eufemia and owes its name to the Ventimiglia family, barons who claimed descent from the Lascaris dynasty. The municipal territory preserves watchtowers, historic farmhouses, and a Tyrrhenian coastline with beaches such as Gorgo Lungo and Salinelle: a setting that makes the patronal feast an opportunity to rediscover an authentic corner of the Madonie.

Spirit of the festival

• Patronal and Marian feast, rooted in Sicilian popular tradition
• Solemn Eucharistic celebration in honor of the Addolorata
• Procession of the statue through the streets of the historic center
• Strong participation from the Lascari community and returning emigrants

For those visiting the Madonie in September, the Feast of Maria SS. Addolorata is an opportunity to experience the devotion and identity of Lascari up close.