Feast of the Immaculate Conception — Atturna and Svelata

A centuries-old devotion in the heart of Ortigia

The Feast of the Immaculate Conception is one of the oldest and most attended religious traditions in Syracuse, the capital of the province of the same name in Sicily. For over fifty years, the celebrations have been centered in the Giudecca, the ancient Jewish quarter on the island of Ortigia, around the Church of San Filippo Apostolo (also known as San Giovannello), which houses the pine-wood statue of the Virgin, carried on the shoulders of the confraternity members.

The Atturna and the Svelata: the heart of the festival

The most intense and defining moment takes place during the night between November 28th and 29th. Around three in the morning, the Atturna (the "nocturnal") comes to life: the brass band, joined by the confraternity members, joyfully parades through the streets of Ortigia, waking the inhabitants and calling them to church for the dawn mass. At the climax of the celebration, held in the dim light, at the words «Monstra te esse Matrem!» from the Ave Maris Stella, the white veil covering the statue is removed: this is the Svelata. The Church of San Filippo suddenly lights up amidst the notes of the band, applause, and the cheers of the faithful, in one of the most moving rites of the Syracusan devotional calendar.

The novena and local events

From November 30th to December 7th, the daily novena takes place with rosaries and masses. During the festival, Via della Giudecca comes alive with "Artigianando" market stalls and Christmas decorations, while free tours are held at the Puppet Museum, the crypt, the hypogeum, and the well of the Church of San Filippo Apostolo. There is also the traditional Sweet Fair, alongside cultural meetings, screenings, and moments of religious meditation.

The solemn procession of December 8th

The day of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, December 8th, marks the culmination of the festivities. After the pontifical mass and the consecration of the children to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the statue adorned with flowers is carried in procession in the afternoon through the main streets of the historic center of Ortigia. It is carried on the shoulders of the members of the Confraternity of the Immaculate, recognizable by their characteristic blue caps, accompanied by the "Città di Siracusa" Band and the cilii, the six blue floral-adorned candelabra. Along the route, a stop on Via Ruggero Settimo offers the spectacle of fireworks launched from the port, before the evening return to the church.

The start of a long cycle of festivals

The Feast of the Immaculate Conception inaugurates the long period of winter religious processions in Syracuse, which will continue with the celebrations of Saint Lucy (the city's patron saint, celebrated on December 13th) and culminate with the feasts of Saint Sebastian. Experiencing the Immaculate Conception in the Giudecca means immersing yourself in the most authentic soul of Ortigia, amidst popular devotion, music, and the stone alleys of the city's oldest district.