Feast of Saint John the Baptist

The patronal feast of Castelvetrano

The Feast of Saint John the Baptist is the most deeply felt religious and civic event for the community of Castelvetrano, a key town in the province of Trapani, located in the heart of western Sicily and the Belìce Valley. Every year, around June 24th, the historic center transforms into a stage for devotion, memory, and popular celebration that involves the entire city.

History and devotion

Saint John the Baptist became the patron saint of Castelvetrano in 1697, and his figure has guided the community's spiritual life ever since. The cult is housed in the Church of Saint John the Baptist, consecrated in 1660, which preserves a precious marble statue of the saint created by Antonello Gagini in 1522, a masterpiece of Sicilian Renaissance sculpture. The building's interior is embellished with frescoes by Gennaro Pardo, depicting episodes from the life of the Baptist.

The historical re-enactment

The cultural heart of the festival is the historical re-enactment organized by the La Perla Imperiale association, which has involved dozens of volunteers, performers, and citizens for years. Through living tableaux, the performance is divided into two main sections: the life of Saint John the Baptist, from the announcement by the Archangel Gabriel to his birth, the baptism of Christ, and his martyrdom; and the devotion of Castelvetrano, featuring the arrival of the saint's statue, the involvement of local nobility, the 17th-century plague, and the symbolic handing over of the city keys. The procession is accompanied by the drums of the Castrum Veteranum group, choreography by the DEA dance school, and light and shadow displays.

Festival highlights

• Holy masses and religious services throughout the festival days
• Concerts in the historic center and churches, featuring sacred and folk music
• Historical re-enactment with living tableaux by La Perla Imperiale
• Handing over of the city keys to the patron saint by the Mayor
• Solemn procession of the statue through the main streets of the center
• Saint John's Fair with stalls in the three main squares

An authentic experience in the Sicilian Belìce

The Feast of Saint John the Baptist offers visitors an authentic immersion into the religious and popular traditions of western Sicily. Amidst art, faith, and folklore, it is also the ideal opportunity to discover Castelvetrano, a city near the famous Selinunte Archaeological Park, and to savor the flavors of local cuisine during the fair.