Feast of Saint James the Apostle and Fish Festival – Itala Marina

A maritime festival in the heart of the Strait

The Feast of Saint James the Apostle is the most anticipated summer event in Itala Marina, the coastal district of the municipality of Itala, in the Province of Messina, overlooking the clear waters of the Strait. Every year, around July 25th, the day dedicated to the apostle, the small fishing community renews a ritual that weaves together religious devotion, maritime tradition, and popular celebration, attracting worshippers, vacationers, and curious visitors from across the Ionian area of Messina to the beach.

The sea procession

The most emotional moment is the sea procession, a tradition established in 1992 on the initiative of Santi Berlinghieri and Salvatore Cacciola. After the Eucharistic celebration on the beach in front of the Church of San Giacomo, the statue of the saint—protector of the fishermen of Itala Marina—is carried on the shoulders of thirty-five bearers in red vests and hoisted onto a large boat decorated with flowers, lights, and flags. The boat carrying the saint sets sail, followed by a procession of worshippers' boats, while torches reflect on the water and the musical bands of Itala Superiore and Fiumedinisi accompany the journey along the coast. It is a spectacle that leaves an indelible memory on those watching from the shore.

The Fish Festival

Devotion is paired with a village festival: in the evening, the Itala Fish Festival comes to life on the beach, a gastronomic event celebrating the local catch with tastings of fresh fish prepared according to traditional Sicilian maritime recipes. The festival is accompanied by musical performances and entertainment that enliven the promenade in an atmosphere of conviviality that brings together entire families and generations.

Origins and the link to Santiago

The celebrations in honor of Saint James in Itala Marina have their roots in 1976, when the community began celebrating its patron saint. Devotion to the apostle James ideally links this corner of Sicily to the great pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Today, the festival is one of the most representative examples of the maritime folkloric-religious tradition of the Province of Messina, proudly guarded by a community deeply connected to the sea.

The days of the festival

The celebrations do not end on July 25th: in the following days, there are moments of Eucharistic adoration, a solemn mass, and a second procession along Via Roma, which winds through the village and involves the entire community of Itala Marina before the grand finale.