Madonna del Piano Festival (with Sausage Festival — A Festa do Chianu)

The Madonna del Piano Festival in Grammichele

The Madonna del Piano Festival is one of the most beloved and well-attended events in the town of Grammichele, in the Province of Catania, in the heart of Sicily. Every year, from September 6th to 8th, faith, tradition, and folklore meet on the ancient Terravecchia hill, home to the Sanctuary of Santa Maria Maggiore del Piano. For three days, the hillside comes alive, becoming a natural stage where religious observances blend harmoniously with local folklore and culinary traditions.

The bond with Occhiolà and the sanctuary

The sanctuary, a 15th-century building that miraculously survived the tragic 1693 earthquake, is the heart of the community's devotion and memory. The festival maintains a deep bond with Occhiolà, the ancient medieval village destroyed by the earthquake, from which the new Grammichele—with its characteristic hexagonal layout—was born. Even today, many faithful make the journey to the sacred site on foot, sometimes barefoot.

Religious celebrations

The highlight is the night procession on September 8th, when the effigy of the Madonna is carried along the winding road of Piano Croce, accompanied by the faithful singing hymns and prayers in a suggestive trail of lights and torches. Other night processions also depart from the parishes of Grammichele. Particularly moving is the so-called 'viaggio de' virgineddi', in which twelve or more local maidens participate; wearing ancient jewelry, they thank the Virgin Mary for graces received and preside over the traditional 'lunch of the virgins'.

Sausage Festival and folk games

Alongside its spiritual dimension, the festival is also known as «A Festa do Chianu» for its famous folkloric and gastronomic components. The star of the show is the Sausage Festival, dedicated to tasting the typical product of the Grammichele tradition. There is no shortage of food stalls, tastings of local products, performances, and ancient folk games such as the «rutta de' pignatti» (pot breaking) and the «a pigghiata d'antinna» (greasy pole). The evenings are enlivened by live music and DJ sets, while fireworks conclude the festivities.

An event to experience

Between the sacred and the profane, the Madonna del Piano Festival represents a precious opportunity to discover the most authentic identity of Grammichele and its territory, set in a unique landscape among the hills of the Catania hinterland.