Saint Anne Festival

The patronal feast of Malvagna

The Saint Anne Festival is the main religious and civic event in Malvagna, a small municipality in the Metropolitan City of Messina, Sicily. Nestled in the picturesque Alcantara Valley, between the slopes of Mount Etna and Monte Mojo, the village celebrates its Patron Saint every year on the last Sunday of July, in a festival that has united the town's devotion and identity for generations.

The procession of the 'vara'

The heart of the festivities is the evening procession of the 'vara': the ancient statue of Saint Anne is carried on the shoulders of devotees along the streets of the historic center, accompanied by a brass band and followed by a crowd of the faithful. It is a moment of great participation, where the entire community gathers around the statue of the Saint to renew an ancient bond.

The tradition of the miracle of the rain

The devotion of the people of Malvagna to Saint Anne is rooted in popular legend. It is said that towards the end of the 19th century, a long drought threatened the crops in the countryside. The faithful then carried the statue of the Saint in procession, invoking rain, and suddenly, it began to pour. From that miracle, a veneration was born that is still renewed today in the summer festival.

A village in the Alcantara Valley

Founded in 1626, Malvagna preserves a small but precious historical heritage, from the Church of San Marco to the Convent of San Giuseppe. Its location, within the Union of Municipalities of the Upper Alcantara, makes it an ideal stop for those who want to discover an authentic Sicily, far from the major tourist flows, made of villages, traditions, and landscapes between river and volcano.

Atmosphere and community

Beyond the religious aspect, the festival is an opportunity for the entire community to meet: the village streets come alive, families reunite, and the town experiences one of its most heartfelt days of the year. For visitors, it is the perfect occasion to savor the hospitality of a small Nebrodi municipality and immerse themselves in one of the many patronal feasts that mark the Sicilian summer.