Madonna del Rosario Festival

The Patron Saint of Pozzallo

Maria Santissima Regina del Rosario is the primary patron saint of Pozzallo, a lively seaside town in the Province of Ragusa, in the far south of Sicily. Her festival, held between the last Sunday of September and October 7th, is the time of year when the entire community reaffirms its religious and cultural identity. The devotion to the Rosary in Pozzallo dates back to the late 16th century and is linked to the memory of the Battle of Lepanto in 1571, which, according to tradition, was won by the Holy League thanks to the recitation of the Rosary.

The Mother Church and the Statue

The heart of the celebrations is the Mother Church, dedicated to Santa Maria del Rosario and built in 1876. Inside, it houses a wooden sculptural group by local artisan Giorgio Assenza, depicting the Virgin seated with the Child in her arms, flanked by Saint Dominic and Saint Catherine of Siena receiving the Rosary crowns. The most anticipated rituals for the people of Pozzallo revolve around this statue.

From the 'Scinnuta' to the 'curruta'

Celebrations begin on the last Sunday of September with the 'Scinnuta ra Matri', the unveiling of the statue placed on the high altar, followed by a solemn triduum. The evenings are enlivened by music and dance performances, the traditional charity raffle, and the delicious Frittelle Festival, a specialty passed down through generations. The highlight arrives on October 7th with the 'Sciuta' (the exit) of the statue on its float, welcomed in the churchyard by fireworks and the throwing of colorful confetti, a typical custom in southeastern Sicily.

The twilight procession winds through the main streets of the town, with prayer stops at local churches, including that of Saint John the Baptist, the second patron saint of Pozzallo. The most emotional moment is the 'curruta': the statue is carried at a run along Via Vito Giardina and Piazza San Pietro, amidst a roar of applause, before the final 'laps' through the aisles and its return to the altar. The pyrotechnic display, entrusted over the years to renowned firms, concludes the day in Piazza Municipio.

A Community Celebration

The Madonna del Rosario Festival is not just a devotional event: it is a moment of strong cohesion for Pozzallo and the entire southeastern Sicily, capable of drawing back emigrants and attracting visitors. Religiosity, popular tradition, and local flavors intertwine in a free, deeply identity-driven event.