Festival of the Most Holy Crucifix

A centuries-old tradition in the heart of Sicily

The Festival of the Most Holy Crucifix is one of the oldest and most deeply felt religious and civil events in the province of Trapani. It takes place in Calatafimi-Segesta, a hillside village in western Sicily famous for the nearby Segesta archaeological site. It traces its roots back to 1657, when popular devotion to the Crucifix became linked to events considered miraculous. Since then, the cult has become the cornerstone of the town's collective identity.

A festival that does not occur every year

Unlike most patronal festivals, the Festival of the Most Holy Crucifix is not held annually: it is celebrated in a solemn form only after several years. The 2026 edition is particularly awaited as it represents a return after fourteen years, following the last major celebration held around 2012. For the people of Calatafimi, this is a true moment of community rebirth and the rediscovery of centuries-old traditions.

The Ceti and the Maestranza

The heart of the festival lies in the nine Ceti, the ancient guilds representing the trades and rural economy of the area: the Maestranza (the ancient militia), the Borgesi of the Most Holy Crucifix, the Borgesi of Saint Joseph, the Cavallari, the Massari, the Millers, the Market Gardeners, the Butchers, and the Shepherds and Goatherds. Each Ceto parades in costume and spends weeks preparing the characteristic gifts (the "prisenti"), which are thrown to the crowd or solemnly offered to the Crucifix.

The Silver Cross and the Sanctuary of Giubino

A central element of the cult is the precious Silver Cross, donated in 1776 by the Millers' Guild and kept in the Sanctuary of Maria Santissima di Giubino. The simulacrum of the Crucifix, along with that of Maria Santissima di Giubino, is carried in a shoulder-borne procession by the town's youth, preceded by children carrying sacred gold and silver objects.

Three days of celebrations

The 2026 edition takes place from May 1st to 3rd: the first two days feature processions and parades of the Ceti with the throwing of gifts, while Sunday concludes the festivities with a solemn mass, the presentation of the prisenti, and the grand procession of the Crucifix, accompanied by a final fireworks display. An event that draws visitors from all over Sicily, making Calatafimi-Segesta the capital of Trapani's religious tradition for a few days.