Feast of the Madonna del Rosario

The patron saint of Roccalumera

The Feast of the Madonna del Rosario is the main religious event in Roccalumera, a town on the Ionian coast in the province of Messina, Sicily. The celebration takes place in the picturesque hillside village of Allume, an ancient hamlet named after the historic alum mines, and centers around the Mother Church of Santa Maria del Rosario on Via Matrice. The Madonna del Rosario has been recognized as the town's main patron saint since 1674, and for over three centuries, this devotion has been renewed every year on the first Sunday of October.

The church and the statue

The Mother Church of Santa Maria del Rosario was built in the second half of the 17th century in a Baroque style, featuring a single nave and an attached bell tower. Damaged by the 1783 earthquake, it was restored in 1830 under the guidance of Archpriest Pietro Nicola De Luca. Inside, it houses a valuable antique painting depicting the Madonna del Rosario handing the rosary to Saint Dominic and Saint Catherine, located above the high altar, and most importantly, the early 19th-century wooden sculpture group portraying the Virgin and Child offering the rosary to Saint Dominic: this is the statue carried in the procession.

The spirit of the feast

The feast weaves together religious ritual and the identity of the Allume community. The most anticipated moment is the procession: the patron saint's statue is carried on shoulders through the village streets, decorated with drapes, flags, and illuminated arches, while the Virgin's passage is greeted by numerous fireworks. The day unfolds between morning masses, the Supplication to the Madonna del Rosario at noon, and the afternoon procession, in an atmosphere of popular participation that draws both locals and emigrants returning for the occasion.

Tradition and territory

• Main patron saint of Roccalumera since 1674
• Celebrated on the first Sunday of October in the village of Allume
• Procession of the early 19th-century wooden statue
• Midday Supplication and fireworks displays

Roccalumera is part of the Ionian Riviera of Messina, a short distance from Taormina: beyond the patronal feast, the town's calendar includes other devotional events such as Saint Anthony of Padua, the Madonna del Carmelo in the Botteghelle district, and the Madonna della Catena, as well as the Verdello Lemon Festival. However, the Feast of the Madonna del Rosario remains the most heartfelt occasion, capable of uniting the entire community in the small village of Allume.