Madonna della Croce Festival

A countryside festival in the heart of Ustica

The Madonna della Croce Festival is one of the most beloved religious observances in the municipality of Ustica, a small volcanic island in the Metropolitan City of Palermo, Sicily. It takes place every year on the first Sunday of September in the picturesque Contrada Tramontana, around the small church of Passo della Madonna, reflecting the rural and maritime soul of a community deeply connected to both land and sea.

The novena and preparations

Festivities begin nine days before the main event: according to tradition, the statue of the Madonna is taken from the small church in the district and brought to the main village church for the traditional novena, during which the faithful gather in prayer in anticipation of the solemn day. It is a moment of spiritual preparation that involves the entire island.

The procession and the bonfires

On the day of the festival, in the early afternoon, it is customary for the statue to tour the island and the village: the statue of the Madonna is paraded on a festively decorated Ape, followed by many young people on scooters. Around 5:00 PM, the actual procession begins, traveling from the church through the village and across the entire Contrada Tramontana. Along the way, large bonfires (the characteristic vamparine) are lit in honor of the Madonna, accompanied by hymns and prayers: an intense and popular image that illuminates the island's countryside.

The mass and the celebration in the fields

The procession concludes with an open-air mass near the small church. After the celebration, tradition dictates that the festivities continue in the fields of the district: embers are lit for meat barbecues, and dancing and games are organized, bringing the community together in a convivial atmosphere that blends devotion and joy until the evening.

Ustica, an island to discover

Located off the coast of Palermo, Ustica is Italy's first Marine Protected Area and a favorite destination for those seeking nature, crystal-clear waters, and authentic traditions. The Madonna della Croce Festival, along with other island events like the Feast of Saint Bartholomew and the Feast of the Madonna of the Fishermen, offers visitors the chance to experience the most genuine folklore of the Ustica community and the Archdiocese of Palermo.