Feast of Saint Rosalia and Saint Prospero

A patronal festival blending faith and identity

The Feast of Saint Rosalia and Saint Prospero is the most cherished religious and cultural event in Centuripe, an ancient hilltop village in the province of Enna, in the heart of Sicily. Every year, in mid-September, the town—famous for its distinctive star shape—gathers around its two patron saints for a week of celebrations that weave together devotion, historical memory, and community spirit.

Origins and relics

The bond between Centuripe and its patrons dates back to the 17th century: in 1681, the Augustinian Fathers obtained a relic of Saint Rosalia, the beloved "Santuzza" venerated throughout Sicily, who became the city's patron. A few years later, in 1698, Saint Prospero was elected co-patron, and his relics are now housed in the Mother Church. The statue of Saint Prospero, clad in a magnificent silver suit of armor, is accompanied by a historic banner donated in 1913 by Centuripe emigrants in Argentina, a symbol of the deep connection between the town and its people scattered across the globe.

The processions

The religious heart of the festival is marked by processions that traverse the streets of the historic center:

• Saint Rosalia opens the festivities with her procession from the Mother Church;
• The Saint's relics are carried in an evening procession following Solemn Vespers;
• Saint Prospero is accompanied in a solemn procession to the Church of Saint Augustine, with the participation of confraternities and local authorities, before visiting the various neighborhoods;
• At nightfall on the final day, the statue returns to the Mother Church, concluding the celebrations.

Music, shows, and the Fair of Saint Prospero

Alongside religious services, Piazza Duomo becomes the stage for a rich entertainment program: live concerts, tribute bands, dance performances, cabaret nights, and variety shows enliven the Centuripe evenings. The festivities are sealed by the traditional Fair of Saint Prospero, an ancient market that includes the historic livestock exhibition, a moment of strong rural identity for the territory.

Centuripe, a city of art and history

Experiencing the festival is also an opportunity to discover Centuripe, nicknamed the "imperial city" for the richness of its Roman-era artifacts. During the festivities, it is possible to visit the Regional Archaeological Museum and the Ethno-Anthropological Museum, housed in the former convent of Saint Basil. The festival is an authentic experience of inland Sicily, where the Sicilian Region preserves popular traditions passed down from generation to generation.