Festival of Saint Calogero the Hermit – Patronal Feast of Naro

The Patronal Feast of Naro

In the heart of the Agrigento province, the medieval and baroque town of Naro — known as the Fulgentissima — dedicates one of Sicily's most intense and well-attended religious festivals to its patron, Saint Calogero the Hermit. For nearly a week, usually in mid-June, the town of Naro experiences a series of liturgical celebrations, processions, musical entertainment, and moments of deep popular devotion that involve the entire community and the many emigrants who return home for the occasion.

The Origins: The Plague of 1626

The cult of Saint Calogero in Naro is rooted in the terrible plague that struck Sicily between 1624 and 1626. According to tradition, the Franciscan tertiary Sister Serafina Maria Pulcella had a vision in which the Saint promised, through his intercession, to end the contagion. When the epidemic ceased, the city chose Saint Calogero as its patron and protector, replacing the previous patron, Saint Catherine of Alexandria. In 1693, the Saint was invoked again for protecting Naro from the devastating earthquake that hit the Val di Noto; for this reason, the Saint is also commemorated on January 11th. The venerated statue, the Black Saint with his long dark beard, staff, and medicine box symbolizing healing, was carved by sculptor Francesco Frazzotta in 1566 and is kept in the sanctuary's crypt.

The 'Straula' and the Rope

The most spectacular and identity-defining ritual is the procession of the 'straula': the cart carrying the statue of the Saint is placed on a heavy votive sled and dragged through the town streets by two lines of faithful clinging to sturdy ropes, the so-called corda, which can be up to 150-200 meters long and is donated as a vow in gratitude for graces received. During the procession, devotees climb onto the 'straula' to symbolically wipe the sweat from the statue with white handkerchiefs, which are then kept as protective relics, while the crowd shouts 'Viva Diu e San Calò'. A hallmark of the festival is the blessing of the votive bread, shaped like various parts of the human body and distributed to the faithful as a sign of healing.

The Festival Program

The festival days blend religious and secular moments. Mornings are marked by masses in the Sanctuary, while the eve and the evening of the main festival offer brass band parades, entertainment in the town squares (Piazza Roma, Piazza Cavour, Piazza Garibaldi), firework displays, and concerts of pop and Sicilian music. Along Viale Umberto, the large street fair takes place, a traditional event that attracts visitors from all over the Agrigento area. The main day, June 18th, culminates with a solemn mass celebrated by the Archbishop and the solemn procession of the Saint.

Naro, City of Art

The festival is also an opportunity to discover Naro, rich in churches, noble palaces, the Chiaramontano Castle, and the Cathedral, set in the typical hilly landscape of the Sicilian hinterland. Between faith, tradition, and conviviality, the Saint Calogero Festival represents one of the most authentic events in the Sicily Region.