Madonna del Castello Festival
The ancient Easter festival of Palma di Montechiaro, featuring pilgrimages, caparisoned horses, and deep-rooted popular devotion.
About Madonna del Castello
A festival that extends Easter
In Palma di Montechiaro, a town in the Free Municipal Consortium of Agrigento famously known as the "City of the Leopard" of the Tomasi family, the Madonna del Castello Festival is the most important devotional event of the year. It is held annually on the Sunday immediately following Easter, known as Domenica in Albis, effectively extending the Easter festivities with nearly a month of celebrations.
The dawn ritual at the Castle
The heart of the festival is the marble statue of the Madonna di Montechiaro ("Maria Montisclari"), a fine 16th-century sculpture attributed to the circle of Antonello Gagini. For the rest of the year, it is kept in the chapel of the Castello di Montechiaro, a 14th-century Chiaramonte fortress overlooking the Capreria district. At dawn on Domenica in Albis, hundreds of devotees—many barefoot—climb to the castle to retrieve the sacred image. Following Holy Mass in the castle courtyard, the pilgrimage toward the town begins.
Horses, drums, and the vestment ceremony
The procession winds through the fields and reaches the town entrance, where the evocative traditional vestment ceremony of the statue takes place. From there, the Madonna enters the town accompanied by an impressive parade of caparisoned horses and Sicilian carts, amidst drums and folk songs. The most emotional moment is the entry of the Virgin, carried on shoulders, moving almost at a "run" before slowing down solemnly. The procession traverses the streets of the historic center to the Mother Church, where the enthronement takes place with a solemn evening Mass.
A month of devotion
The unique feature of this festival is its duration. After entering the city, the statue remains exposed to the veneration of the faithful for about a week in the Mother Church, before being transferred in procession to the Benedictine Monastery church, where it remains for several weeks. On the Sunday preceding the Ascension, the return procession takes place, accompanying the Madonna back to the Castello di Montechiaro, where she will be kept until the following year.
A hallmark of Sicilian tradition
Organized with the support of the Pro Loco of Palma di Montechiaro and the parish community, the festival attracts thousands of participants every year, including many from other provinces of Sicily. It is an event that blends Renaissance art, popular religiosity, and seasonal liturgical rhythms—an authentic expression of Agrigento's culture and the deep bond between the community and its patron saint.
Madonna del Castello — edition 2026
2026 Edition
The 2026 Madonna del Castello Festival took place starting Sunday, April 12, Domenica in Albis, the first Sunday after Easter. The day began at 9:30 AM with Holy Mass in the Castello di Montechiaro courtyard and the start of the pilgrimage, followed by a Eucharistic celebration at the Church of San Giuseppe Artigiano. In the early afternoon, the traditional vestment ceremony of the statue took place, followed by the city procession with horses, drums, and folk songs to the Mother Church, where the enthronement and solemn Mass were held.
The edition saw great participation, with over 10,000 attendees and about 100 caparisoned horses arriving from various provinces of Sicily. Celebrations continued with the procession to the Benedictine Monastery and the return procession to the Castle on the Sunday preceding the Ascension, around May 10.
Programme Madonna del Castello 2026
- Sunday, April 12 (Domenica in Albis) — 9:30 AM: Holy Mass in the Castle courtyard and start of the pilgrimage; Noon: Eucharistic celebration at the Church of San Giuseppe Artigiano; Early afternoon: traditional vestment ceremony; Afternoon: city procession with caparisoned horses, drums, and folk songs to the Mother Church; Evening: enthronement and solemn Mass.
- Following weeks — procession and stay of the statue at the Benedictine Monastery.
- Sunday preceding the Ascension (around May 10) — return procession of the Madonna to the Castello di Montechiaro with a final celebration.
Highlights Madonna del Castello 2026
- Pilgrimage of the faithful at dawn to the Chiaramonte castle
- Parade of about 100 caparisoned horses and Sicilian carts
- Traditional vestment ceremony of the statue at the city entrance
- Entry of the Madonna carried on shoulders "at a run"
- Over 10,000 participants from all over Sicily
Prices Madonna del Castello 2026
Practical information — Madonna del Castello
Getting there
Palma di Montechiaro is located on the southern coast of Sicily, in the province of Agrigento. By car, it can be reached via the SS115 (Agrigento-Gela). The nearest airport is Comiso, followed by Catania-Fontanarossa and Palermo-Punta Raisi. The reference railway station is Agrigento, from which you can continue by bus or car.
Admission
Religious celebrations and processions take place along the city streets and are free and open to the public. The highlight is concentrated on Domenica in Albis, but celebrations continue for about a month until the statue returns to the castle.
Tips
To witness the dawn pilgrimage and the arrival of the caparisoned horses, it is advisable to arrive in the morning. Wear comfortable clothing to follow the procession on foot along the path from the castle to the historic center.
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Where does it take place — Madonna del Castello
Castello di Montechiaro e centro storico