Procession of the Nuri of Solarino — Feast of Saint Sebastian

The Nuri of Solarino: a vow renewed at dawn

The Procession of the Nuri of Solarino is the town of Solarino's unique contribution to the grand Feast of Saint Sebastian in Melilli, one of the most deeply felt religious observances in the province of Syracuse and all of Sicily. Every year, in the hours before dawn on May 4th, hundreds of devotees gather in Piazza del Plebiscito to receive the parish priest's blessing and begin their journey toward the Sanctuary of Saint Sebastian in Melilli.

Who are the "Nuri"?

The name "nuri" (meaning "naked") has roots in a distant penitential tradition: until the end of the 19th century, pilgrims would make the journey almost unclothed as a sign of humility and sacrifice, imitating the martyrdom of Saint Sebastian. Today, the nuri appear dressed in white with a red sash across their chests, barefoot, often carrying flowers and children on their shoulders. Men, women, and young people walk together, chanting invocations and prayers to the Saint to thank him for graces received or to implore new ones.

The journey: twenty kilometers barefoot

Departure from Solarino takes place around 5:00 AM (some groups begin as early as 4:00 AM). The route, approximately 20 kilometers long, winds along the provincial road through the countryside of the Iblean Mountains, toward Sortino and then Melilli. It is a challenging, uphill trek, made even more arduous by the lack of footwear: the nuri arrive at the Sanctuary around 9:30 AM, exhausted and moved, to offer their toil before the venerated image of the "two-martyr" saint.

A devotion that unites Solarino and Melilli

Along the way, the nuri of Solarino join those coming from Melilli itself, Sortino, and other towns in the province, creating one of the most impressive displays of popular religiosity in eastern Sicily. The arrival of the pilgrims is the spiritual heart of the Melilli festivities, which unfold over several days each year with processions, liturgical moments, fireworks, and concerts.

Between faith and local identity

For the town of Solarino, the procession of the nuri is not just an act of faith, but a profound element of collective identity, passed down from generation to generation. The rite represents a precious intangible heritage of the province of Syracuse and the Sicilian Region, capable every spring of drawing devotees, curious onlookers, and lovers of folk traditions along the roads leading from Solarino to the Sanctuary of Melilli.