Saint Catherine of Alexandria Festival

A patronal feast at the foot of Mount Etna

The Saint Catherine of Alexandria Festival is one of the most heartfelt events in the religious and civic calendar of Pedara, a town in the Metropolitan City of Catania nestled at an altitude of about 610 meters on the southern slopes of Mount Etna. Saint Catherine is the co-patron of the town along with Mary Most Holy of the Annunciation, and every year, around November 25th, the Pedara community gathers around its Basilica to honor the virgin and martyr from Alexandria, Egypt.

The Basilica, the heart of the festival

The hub of the festivities is the Basilica of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, Pedara's most important monument, which stands in all its splendor in Piazza Don Diego. A masterpiece of Sicilian Baroque rebuilt after the terrible 1693 earthquake, the church was consecrated on November 25, 1976, and elevated to a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1996. Inside, it houses frescoes by Giovanni Lo Coco and, most notably, a canvas depicting the Martyrdom of Saint Catherine attributed to the great Mattia Preti, as well as a fine Serassi organ from 1874.

The festival program

Celebrations begin on the Sunday preceding the triduum with the enthronement of the statue of the Saint on the high altar. In the following days, the Coroncina a Santa Caterina Alessandrina is recited, and religious services are held, featuring the blessing and distribution of blessed bread to the faithful—an ancient gesture deeply rooted in popular devotion.

• Solemn Triduum in preparation for the feast, with Eucharistic celebrations and moments of prayer;
• Blessing and distribution of bread to the faithful;
• Procession of the statue and relics through the town streets, with the participation of local Confraternities;
• Fireworks display to crown the main day;
• Brass band to accompany the processions.

November 25th, the main day

The patronal feast culminates on November 25th, the day that also commemorates the dedication of the Basilica to the Patron Saint. The day is announced from the morning by cannon fire and the festive ringing of all the town's church bells. In the afternoon, the fercolo (processional float) carrying the statue and the relics of Saint Catherine is carried in procession through the streets of Pedara, accompanied by the Confraternities and a crowd of faithful, until its triumphant return to the Basilica, greeted by fireworks.

Tradition and Pedara identity

More than just a religious event, the Saint Catherine Festival is a moment of strong cohesion for the entire community on the Etna slopes. The streets of the historic center come alive with stalls, illuminations, and local gastronomic specialties, in a town also known for its Etna mushrooms and Sicilian confectionery traditions. For visitors, the festival is the ideal opportunity to discover an authentic village in the province of Catania, amidst devotion, Baroque architecture, and the landscapes of Europe's highest volcano.