Madonna della Stella Festival

A patronal feast in the heart of the Etna region

The Madonna della Stella Festival is the most significant religious and cultural event in Santa Maria la Stella, a hillside village shared by the municipalities of Aci Sant'Antonio and Acireale, in the province of Catania, located about 326 meters above sea level on the slopes of Mount Etna. Every year, on the last Sunday of August, the small community of just over four thousand residents gathers around its patron saint for two intense days of faith, tradition, and local celebration.

The origins of the devotion

The very name of the village tells its story. Legend has it that in an ancient shelter along the country paths—built after farmers cleared land reclaimed from the lava flow of the 1329 Etna eruption—there was an image of the Magi adoring the Madonna, surmounted by a star. That painting became a destination for pilgrims seeking protection, and by the end of the 19th century, a small church dedicated to the Madonna della Stella was built around it, later becoming a sanctuary and the heart of the village.

The fercolo and the canopy tradition

The most distinctive element of the festival is the exit of the fercolo (processional float). The four-column wooden canopy that covers the statue is taller than the church portal; therefore, as it exits, it is lowered to allow it to pass through the door, only to be raised again once outside, revealing the Madonna in her full glory amidst the sound of bells, firecrackers, and a shower of multicolored paper.

Two days of celebrations

• On the eve of the feast, to the sound of bells and firecrackers, the small chapel is opened to unveil the patron saint's statue, which has remained hidden for a year, as it advances slowly to the singing of the Litany of Loreto.
• A brass band parades through the streets of the village.
• The triumphal procession of the fercolo winds through the town, featuring the famous "calata dell'Angelo" (Descent of the Angel) in the upper part of Via Santa Maria la Stella.
• On Sunday, the solemn Mass is presided over by the diocesan Bishop on the church square.
• The return of the fercolo culminates with the "Trasuta o Chianu", the triumphal entry into Piazza Pio XI late in the evening, accompanied by fireworks and festive bells.

Between the sacred and the secular

Alongside the religious observances, the festival includes cultural and social initiatives that enliven the entire month of August. On the church square and in the village plazas, the Sagra degli Antichi Sapori (Festival of Ancient Flavors) takes place, dedicated to local products and gastronomic specialties of the Etna region, featuring stalls, entertainment, and music. It is a perfect opportunity to discover Sicilian conviviality and the identity of a village that weaves faith, tradition, and hospitality at the foot of the volcano.