Our Lady of the Snows Festival

A festival in the heart of the Iblei Mountains

The Our Lady of the Snows Festival is the patronal feast of Giarratana, a small town in the province of Ragusa set within the Iblei Mountains of Sicily. Every year, from late July to early August, the entire community unites around its patron saint, Maria Santissima della Neve, also revered as the Queen of the city. It is one of the most deeply felt traditions in the Iblei area, drawing devotees, returning emigrants, and curious visitors eager to witness a ritual passed down through centuries.

An ancient and deeply rooted cult

Devotion to Our Lady of the Snows in Giarratana has ancient roots, dating back to the original settlement of Terravecchia, which was destroyed and later rebuilt further down the valley. The Madonna was officially proclaimed Patron Saint of Giarratana on August 5, 1644, following an edict by King Philip IV of Spain. Since then, the bond between the community and its protector has remained unbreakable: the venerated 16th-century statue, housed in the Basilica of Sant'Antonio Abate, is the focal point of the entire celebration.

The 'sciuta', the climactic moment

The heart of the festivities is the 'sciuta', the solemn exit of the statue at noon on August 5th onto the square of the Basilica of Sant'Antonio Abate. It is an emotionally charged moment: the artistic fercolo (processional float), carried on the shoulders of devotees, is announced by the Giarratana drums and accompanied by the firing of characteristic colorful nzaiareddi and fireworks. The procession winds through the historic center to the Church of San Bartolomeo Apostolo for the Angelus prayer, before returning to the Mother Church for a floral tribute.

Faith, brass bands, and popular tradition

The festival days are marked by Eucharistic celebrations, brass band parades marching along Corso XX Settembre and Corso Umberto I with symphonic marches, and the participation of civil and military authorities in the evening procession. Along the streets, traditional votive sweets such as cuddure and pagnuccate are sold. The festival concludes late in the evening with the return of the statue to the Basilica, accompanied by the singing of the Magnificat and a pyrotechnic display on the church facade.

When it takes place

The festivities begin on July 28th with the exposition of the statue for the veneration of the faithful and culminate on August 5th, the day of the patronal feast. An event that captures the most authentic soul of the Ragusa province and the Iblei hinterland.