Madonna delle Grazie Festival

A Marian devotion spanning nearly five centuries

The Madonna delle Grazie Festival is one of the most heartfelt events in the religious calendar of Belpasso, a town in the Metropolitan City of Catania nestled on the southern slopes of Mount Etna. The devotion dates back to the 16th century: the parish community has documented this long-standing tradition in the volume La Madonna delle Grazie, esperienza di fede a Belpasso, which traces its history back to 1537. While the Sant'Antonio district and its parish community are the heart of the festivities, the celebration extends throughout the entire town, blending popular religious fervor with local folklore.

The 16th-century statue

The absolute protagonist of the festival is the 16th-century statue of the Madonna delle Grazie, which is kept in the church for most of the year and solemnly displayed during the festival days. It is around this sacred image that the community gathers for prayers, hymns, and processions.

Three days of Ferragosto celebrations

The core of the festivities takes place during the Ferragosto period, between August 14th and 16th:

• August 14th — At dusk, artistic illuminations are lit in Piazza Sant'Antonio and along Via Roma; silhouettes commemorating the apostles and saints are placed on the church parvis, and a night vigil begins. Families in the district light torches in front of their homes, which burn throughout the night.
• August 15th — The main day, featuring Eucharistic celebrations and an evening procession. Upon the return of the statue, the welcome is animated by hymns, music, and living tableaux.
• August 16th — A second procession winds through the streets of the district, marked by thematic altars set up with living tableaux.

Spiritual preparation

The festival is preceded by a long path of preparation. In July, the Visitatio Mariae begins, a pilgrimage of the Marian image among the families of the district. This is followed by the fifteen days of the quindicina, with morning and evening prayers in the church, moments of blessing for children, engaged couples, newlyweds, and expectant parents, as well as the consecration of the little ones. It is a period of reflection that unites the community in anticipation of the feast day.

A Belpasso Ferragosto

Between illuminations, processions, and popular traditions, the Madonna delle Grazie Festival is how Belpasso experiences its Ferragosto: a moment where Marian faith, folklore, and neighborhood life merge into one of the most authentic expressions of Sicilian religiosity.