Madonna della Pace Festival
The patronal feast of Tremestieri Etneo during the Octave of Easter
About Madonna della Pace
The patronal feast of Tremestieri Etneo
The Madonna della Pace Festival is the most cherished patronal feast in Tremestieri Etneo, a town in the Metropolitan City of Catania on the slopes of Mount Etna, Sicily. The celebration takes place every year on Divine Mercy Sunday (the first Sunday after Easter) and the following Monday, the Octave of Easter, centering on the 17th-century wooden statue of Mary Most Holy Queen of Peace, housed in the Mother Church dedicated to her.
Origins and devotion
Devotion to the Madonna della Pace has deep roots in the history of Tremestieri Etneo: for centuries, the image of the Virgin served as the town's coat of arms, and even today, numerous small shrines scattered throughout the village and the countryside bear witness to a deeply ingrained cult. The title Queen of Peace expresses a yearning for harmony and comfort that the community renews annually, especially in times marked by war.
The festival program
The festivities open with a triduum of preparation, consisting of the recitation of the Rosary, community catechesis, and Eucharistic celebrations, and are enriched by acts of charity such as the Holy Mass at the cemetery. The eve is marked by a pilgrimage from the Madonna dell'Idria church to the Mother Church, during which the faithful offer flowers and wax to the Virgin.
- Divine Mercy Sunday: in the late afternoon, the solemn procession crosses the upper part of Via Etnea and the western district (south-central area), concluding in front of the Mother Church.
- Monday of the Octave: after the Solemn Mass, attended by clergy, civil and military authorities, a second procession travels through the north-central area, with a stop in front of the Town Hall for the tribute of the municipal administration.
The most evocative moments
Among the most emotional moments are the Cantata in honor of the Madonna della Pace on the parvis of the Mother Church and the act of entrustment of the city to the Virgin, which seals the festival. Along the route, there is no shortage of traditional blessings from balconies and, in the streets of the town, the sweets fair, stalls selling calia and crispelle, and the popular atmosphere that has always accompanied this Etna patronal feast. The Mother Church also houses the statue of Saint Barbara, co-patron of Tremestieri Etneo.
Madonna della Pace — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of the Madonna della Pace Festival took place in Tremestieri Etneo from April 8 to 13, during the Octave of Easter. The festival followed its traditional format: the pilgrimage from the Madonna dell'Idria church to the Mother Church, the procession on Divine Mercy Sunday (April 12) in the south-central area, and the procession on Monday, April 13, in the north-central area, with a stop in front of the Town Hall.
A distinctive feature of 2026 was the absence of fireworks, a choice made by the community as a sign of peace in a time marked by war. The pontifical Eucharistic celebration was presided over by Monsignor Luigi Renna, in the presence of the municipal Extraordinary Commission and local authorities. The program included the Cantata on the parvis, the act of entrusting the city to the Virgin, the sweets fair, a charity raffle, and a blood and plasma donation drive.
Programme Madonna della Pace 2026
- April 8-11: Triduum of preparation, recitation of the Rosary, community catechesis, and Eucharistic celebrations; Holy Mass at the cemetery; pilgrimage from the Madonna dell'Idria church to the Mother Church with offerings of flowers and wax.
- Sunday, April 12 (Divine Mercy Sunday): Solemn procession of the statue in the south-central area, concluding in front of the Mother Church with the Cantata in honor of the Madonna della Pace.
- Monday, April 13: Pontifical Eucharistic celebration presided over by Monsignor Luigi Renna; in the afternoon/evening, a second procession in the north-central area with a stop in front of the Town Hall and the act of entrusting the city to the Virgin.
- Collateral events: sweets fair, charity raffle, blood and plasma donation drive (April 11-12).
Highlights Madonna della Pace 2026
- Edition without fireworks as a sign of peace
- Two evening processions (south-central and north-central areas)
- Cantata in honor of the Madonna della Pace on the parvis
- Pontifical celebration by Monsignor Luigi Renna and act of entrustment
Prices Madonna della Pace 2026
Practical information — Madonna della Pace
How to get there
Tremestieri Etneo is located at the gates of Catania, along the south-eastern slopes of Mount Etna. By car, it can be reached from the Catania ring road (exits for San Giovanni La Punta / Gravina di Catania) and from the SS121. By plane, the Catania-Fontanarossa airport is about 15 km away. The festivities take place in the town center, around the Mother Church of Santa Maria della Pace.
When
The festival falls on Divine Mercy Sunday and the following Monday (Octave of Easter), with dates varying from year to year. Participation in the celebrations and processions is free of charge.
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Where does it take place — Madonna della Pace
Chiesa Madre Santa Maria della Pace