Feast of San Calogero (u Poviru)

A feast born from a vow: the 1693 earthquake

On January 11, 1693, eastern Sicily was struck by one of the most catastrophic earthquakes in its history. In Campofranco, in the Province of Caltanissetta, tradition holds that the faithful carried the statue of San Calogero in procession, praying for salvation from the tremors. Legend has it that as soon as the statue was placed on the ground, the earth stopped shaking and the town emerged almost unscathed. Since that day, the community has held a second feast in honor of its protector as a sign of eternal gratitude, distinct from the grand summer celebrations.

San Calogero "u Poviru"

To distinguish it from the lavish July festival, the people of Campofranco call this winter recurrence San Calogero "u Poviru", meaning "the poor one." This name reflects the day's more sober and reflective tone—far from the spectacle of the main festival, yet equally charged with faith. It is a feast of the heart, experienced primarily by the local population as a renewal of their ancient vow.

The day of January 11th

The festivities are centered at the Church of San Francesco, an ancient Franciscan convent church tied to the Saint's cult. The morning is dedicated to a solemn mass, followed by a procession of the statue through the streets of the historic center. The statue depicts San Calogero as a monk with a gentle face, wearing a white habit and dark cloak, holding a characteristic silver staff—a gift from the Lucchesi princes dating back to the 19th century.

Traditions and popular devotion

The cult of San Calogero in Campofranco is intertwined with the typical popular religiosity of the Nisseno area. Among the most heartfelt devotional acts are the votive offerings of bread, shaped to resemble body parts healed through the Saint's intercession, and the collection of alms for the so-called missa cugliuta. While the summer festival is famous for the Sagra dei Pupi di Pane (Bread Puppet Festival), this winter appointment also keeps the sense of the vow and the protection invoked against natural disasters intact.

Campofranco and the Platani Valley

Nestled on an airy ridge in the Platani Valley, about 75 kilometers from Caltanissetta, Campofranco is a town of ancient foundation (1573) that has preserved its religious traditions for over four centuries. The Feast of San Calogero on January 11th is one of the most authentic expressions of this Sicilian village's identity, capable of transforming the memory of a natural catastrophe into a collective act of gratitude passed down from generation to generation.

Dates and the detailed program for the 2026 edition have not yet been officially announced, but the event is traditionally celebrated every year on January 11th.