Feast of San Vincenzo Ferreri

A popular festival at the foot of Mount Etna

Perched at an altitude of nearly one thousand meters, Maletto is the highest village on Mount Etna and one of the most characteristic towns in the province of Catania, in Sicily. Known as the "city of strawberries" and the capital of the ciaramedda (pastoral bagpipes), the village experiences its most intense period in September, during the patronal feasts, which take place over several Sundays dedicated to the most venerated saints: Saint Anthony of Padua, San Vincenzo Ferreri, and Saint Michael the Archangel.

San Vincenzo Ferreri, the co-patron

San Vincenzo Ferreri, a Dominican friar and great preacher who lived between the 14th and 15th centuries, is the co-patron of Maletto. His liturgical feast day falls on April 5th, but the Maletto community dedicates the great popular festival to him on the third Sunday of September, immediately following the celebrations for the patron saint, Saint Anthony. It is an ancient and deeply rooted devotion that every year draws numerous emigrants and visitors from neighboring towns to the village.

The evening procession with the fercolo

The heart of the festival is the solemn evening procession. At dusk, the statue of San Vincenzo, placed on a fine wooden fercolo, leaves the Church of Saint Anthony and is carried on shoulders along the traditional "Streets of the Saints" in the historic center—including Via Roma, Via Bellini, Via Mameli, Via Umberto, and Largo dei Vespri—before returning to the Church of Saint Michael. The V. Bellini brass band of Maletto accompanies the procession, while the streets fill with faithful, illuminations, and stalls.

Music, entertainment, and tradition

Alongside the religious aspect, the festival offers a rich program of entertainment in the village squares: band concerts, music and cabaret evenings, performances, and the traditional fireworks that greet the saint's return. It is the perfect occasion to discover the identity of this Etnean village, its strawberries, its chestnut groves, and the warm hospitality of its people.

When to go

The festival traditionally takes place in Maletto on the third Sunday of September, with a program that begins in the preceding days. The dates for the 2026 edition have not yet been officially announced: it is recommended to check the calendar with the Parish or the Municipality of Maletto as the event approaches.