Saint Anne Festival

The patronal festival of Floresta

The Saint Anne Festival is the main event of the year for Floresta, the highest municipality in Sicily, nestled at an altitude of 1,275 meters on the peaks of the Nebrodi Mountains, in the province of Messina. For a few days at the end of July, the small village fills with residents, returning emigrants, and visitors, creating a celebration where religious devotion intertwines with mountain folklore and a star-studded entertainment lineup.

Devotion to Saint Anne

The religious heart of the festival is the triptych procession featuring the statues of Saint Anne, the Virgin Mary, and the Baby Jesus, carried on the shoulders of the faithful through the village streets on the patron saint's day, July 26th. The morning begins with a parade by the town band and a solemn High Mass, attended by religious and civil authorities. On the eve of the feast, the relic of Saint Anne is carried in procession, while the return to the church is marked by the traditional race that concludes the rite.

Folklore, fairs, and traditions

Alongside the sacred aspects, the festival preserves its rural and pastoral roots. During the festivities, the agricultural and livestock fair takes place, a testament to a still-vibrant mountain economy. A highly anticipated moment is the auction of local products in Piazza Umberto I, where auctioneers sell off donations from the faithful, including the famous provola florestana, a Nebrodi cheese recognized as a Slow Food Presidium. Among the folkloric highlights is the gara dell'antinna, the greasy pole competition, where participants attempt to climb a greased pole to claim the cheeses tied at the top.

Music and entertainment

The Saint Anne Festival is also famous for its musical evenings in Piazza Umberto I, which have hosted well-known names in Italian music over the years. Performances by major artists alternate with cabaret shows, the town band, and firework displays that light up the Nebrodi sky at the end of the evenings, offering a breathtaking view from the highest point on the island.

A village to discover

Experiencing the Saint Anne Festival is also an opportunity to discover Floresta and its extraordinary natural setting: pure air, pastures, beech forests, and panoramas that stretch as far as Mount Etna. An event that unites faith, community identity, and hospitality in the heart of the Nebrodi Park.