Patronal Feast – Sant'Alberto and Madonna di Trapani

The Patrons of Trapani: faith, sea, and tradition

The Patronal Feast of Sant'Alberto and the Madonna di Trapani is the religious and cultural heart of the Sicilian city's summer. For over two weeks, from August 1st to 16th, the municipality of Trapani, in the province of Trapani (Sicily), comes alive with celebrations dedicated to its two patrons: Sant'Alberto degli Abati, a 13th-century Trapanese saint, and the Madonna di Trapani, co-patron venerated in the ancient Santuario dell'Annunziata.

Sant'Alberto degli Abati, the saint of miraculous water

Sant'Alberto, a Carmelite friar born in Trapani who died on August 7th, is linked to one of the most cherished episodes of local devotion: according to tradition, he healed the dying son of an Aragonese king with a sip of water that had touched a relic of the saint. This gave rise to the rite of the blessing of the water of Sant'Alberto, which the faithful receive in the Cathedral every August 7th along with the kissing of the relic. The silver bust of the saint, kept throughout the year in the Sanctuary of the Madonna, is transported to the city on a traditional cart pulled by devotees and welcomed by traditional shouts in the Trapanese dialect.

The Madonna di Trapani, a masterpiece in the Santuario dell'Annunziata

The venerated marble statue of the Madonna di Trapani, attributed to the sculptor Nino Pisano and said to have arrived in the city at the end of the 13th century, is housed in the Basilica-Santuario dell'Annunziata, a pilgrimage destination from all over Sicily. During the festivities, a processional statue is carried through the streets of the historic center. The novena preceding the feast dates back to a centuries-old tradition documented as early as the 16th century.

The most anticipated moments

• August 7th – Feast of Sant'Alberto: parade of drummers, Eucharistic celebrations, blessing of the water, and evening procession of the silver bust.
• August 13th – The evocative sea procession and the "Marian Night" at the fishing port.
• August 15th – Pilgrimage at dawn from the Cathedral to the Sanctuary for Ferragosto.
• August 16th – Solemn procession of the Madonna di Trapani through the historic center, ending in the square with traditional fireworks.

An experience between the sacred and the popular

Between processions, brass bands, pageants, and illuminations, the patronal feast offers visitors an authentic portrait of Trapanese identity, where religious devotion intertwines with the city's deep bond with the sea. The dates and detailed program for the 2026 edition have not yet been officially announced; however, the event has maintained its fixed August calendar for centuries.