Patron Saints Festival (Saint Mark, Saint Nicholas, and Saint Basil the Great)

A festival of identity in the Nebrodi

Every year, from July 30 to August 2, the town of San Marco d'Alunzio—one of the oldest and most picturesque villages in the Nebrodi mountains, in the province of Messina, Sicily—gathers to honor its three patron saints: Saint Mark, Saint Nicholas, and Saint Basil the Great. This patronal festival is one of the most cherished events in the local calendar, drawing devotees, returning emigrants, and visitors captivated by the power of its traditional rites.

The Entrata r'addauru on July 31

July 31 is dedicated to the patrons Mark and Nicholas and centers on one of the most distinctive rituals of inland Sicily: the "Entrata r'addauru". In the afternoon, the local youth decorate laurel branches (the "addauru") with colorful ribbons, money, and scarves. The procession, accompanied by a brass band, winds through the historic center to the monastery, where the young people compete by climbing the ornate branches. At the end, the most beautiful branch is awarded a prize, and collure benedette—small, unleavened bread rings—are distributed to the crowd. That same evening, the statue of Saint Basil the Great is moved from his church to the Mother Church in a brief but ritualistic journey.

The procession of the Saint Basil vara

August 2 is the day of Saint Basil the Great. The vara (a ceremonial float), adorned with flowers and fragrant basil, is carried on the shoulders of devotees through the village streets. The procession is famous for the "viaggi" (journeys) of the Saint—the evocative back-and-forth movements of the float, considered by tradition to be a sign of grace—and for the dozens of torce (torches)—candles about a meter high, decorated with basil, flowers, ribbons, and handkerchiefs—carried by the faithful who precede and follow the float. In the evening, Saint Basil returns to his church, the Badia Piccola.

Between faith and folklore

• Religious rites: Holy Masses, vespers, procession of the relics, and services in the Mother Church and the Badia Piccola
• Folk tradition: The decorated laurel, blessed collure, and basil torches
• Civic events: Symphonic marches performed by the band and a closing fireworks display

San Marco d'Alunzio, a village to discover

The festival is also the perfect opportunity to visit San Marco d'Alunzio, the ancient Aluntium, with its red marble churches, the remains of a Hellenistic temple, and panoramic views of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Included among the prestigious villages of the Nebrodi Park, the town offers a rare historical and artistic heritage that comes alive with music, devotion, and tradition during the patronal days.