Our Lady of Mount Carmel Festival

The Our Lady of Mount Carmel Festival in Nicolosi

In the heart of the historic center of Nicolosi, a town in the Metropolitan City of Catania resting on the southern slopes of Mount Etna, one of the town's most cherished religious traditions is renewed every July 16th: the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Festival. This devotion is tied to the Church of the Carmine, a building that dominates the old part of the village from the top of an elegant staircase.

The Church of the Carmine

The Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, built in 1724 and also dedicated to Saint Agatha, houses the exquisite 18th-century wooden statue of the Virgin, kept in a side niche. Next to the church once stood a hospice for infirm monks; when it fell into disuse, the Carmelite confraternity turned it into their meeting hall, where a wooden altar and a painting of Our Lady of Mount Carmel are still preserved. Below lies a crypt containing the remains of the monks. The building, damaged by the earthquake in April 2008, was restored and reopened for worship in 2010.

The Day of the Festival

During the festivities, the staircase and the facade of the church are decorated with blue flags and colorful ribbons, a custom that brings color to the historic center. The day is marked by liturgical celebrations and moments of popular devotion that culminate in the evening.

The Evening Procession

The most anticipated moment is the evening procession: the statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, richly adorned with jewelry and golden ex-votos donated by the faithful, is carried on shoulders through the main streets of the town, accompanied by the community and the devotees. It is a solemn procession that winds through the Etna village, renewing its strong bond with the Virgin of Carmel every year.

Tradition and Carmelite Context

The July 16th recurrence is the liturgical feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, linked to the tradition of the Carmelite Order and the devotion of the Scapular. In Nicolosi, this spirituality blends with Sicilian popular tradition, in a town that, at the gates of the Etna Park, experiences the festival as an occasion for community gathering as well as faith.

Nicolosi, the "Gateway to Etna"

Known as the "Gateway to Etna", Nicolosi is a starting point for excursions to the volcano and a tourist destination all year round. Experiencing the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Festival allows you to discover the most authentic soul of this village in the province of Catania, in Sicily, amidst sacred art, traditions, and volcanic landscapes.