Feast of San Nicolò Politi (Patron Saint of Adrano)

San Nicolò Politi, the hermit saint of Adrano

The Feast of San Nicolò Politi is the heart of the religious tradition of Adrano, a city in the province of Catania at the foot of Mount Etna, in Sicily. The Saint was born in Adrano in 1117 and, according to tradition, became a hermit at just seventeen, retreating for about thirty years to a cave in the Aspicuddu district before dying in Alcara li Fusi, in the Nebrodi mountains. He has been the city's patron saint ever since, and the bond between Adrano and Alcara li Fusi is so deep that, since 2017, it has translated into a formal twinning that allows the faithful of both towns to celebrate him together.

Three days of devotion: August 2nd to 4th

The patronal festivities are concentrated in the first days of August, as part of the traditional "August Festivals." On August 2nd, the pilgrimage from the church dedicated to the Saint to the Grotta dell'Aspicuddu, San Nicolò's first hermitage, is renewed; in the evening, the Sacred Skull of the Saint is carried in procession with the participation of the clergy, civil and military authorities, and confraternities. August 3rd, the highlight, opens with the Dawn Mass followed by the solemn procession of the Saint's statue through the streets of the historic center.

The Flight of the Angel

The most anticipated and defining moment is the Flight of the Angel, a rite documented since the 18th century that takes place on August 3rd, around 8:00 PM, in the heart of the city. A child dressed as an angel is suspended about twelve meters high along a steel cable stretched between Palazzo Bianchi and the Mother Church: when he reaches the proximity of the processional float, amidst the crowd of the faithful, he recites a sacred ode in honor of the Saint and throws flowers toward the statue. The ceremony, charged with emotion, concludes with fireworks, bells, incense, and ancient chants. On August 4th, further processions take place to conclude the festivities.

The Paths of the Spirit

Around the festival, a devotional itinerary has been developed, "The Paths of the Spirit," which touches upon the places linked to the Saint: the Church of San Nicolò (built on his birthplace), the Mother Church with the relics and paintings by Angelo La Naia, and Piazza Sant'Agostino with the 1750 statue.

Adrano Summer

The religious festivities are part of the broader civil program of Adrano Summer, a festival that enlivens the historic center for months, particularly Piazza Umberto, at the foot of the Norman Castle, with concerts, shows, sports, and entertainment for all ages. The festival attracts hundreds of faithful and emigrants who return to the city for the occasion every year, and it is one of the most deeply felt identity-defining events in the entire Etna area.