Saint Mark the Evangelist Festival and Agricultural Fair

The patronal feast of Baucina

In the heart of the Palermo hinterland, perched at an altitude of 550 meters, the municipality of Baucina has just over two thousand inhabitants but preserves one of the most heartfelt patronal feasts in inland Sicily. Every year, on April 24th and 25th, the entire community gathers around its patron, Saint Mark the Evangelist, in a celebration that weaves together religious devotion, folk traditions, and rural culture.

A history spanning over 360 years

The festival is rooted in the very origins of the village. The town took shape around the Church of Saint Mark (16th century), the oldest place of worship in the area, built on the ancient fiefdom of San Marco. Refugees from Ciminna and Ventimiglia di Sicilia settled around this rural chapel, forming the first residential nucleus. Since then, devotion to the Evangelist has been passed down from generation to generation, even after the cult of Saint Fortunata, the village's co-patron, was partially integrated in the late 18th century.

Rites and traditions

The festival opens with a preparatory novena and the descent of the statue of Saint Mark from the altar of his dedicated church, located just outside the town center. From there, the saint is accompanied in a pilgrimage to the Mother Church, dedicated to Saint Rosalia. On the churchyard of Saint Mark, the traditional 'ntinna takes place—a greasy pole contest with prizes for those who reach the top—while palluna di carta (paper hot-air balloons) are released into the sky.

The 'volate degli angeli'

The most anticipated moment is the solemn procession of the statue through the village streets, punctuated by the evocative volate degli angeli: children in costume are suspended and moved along Via XXIV Maggio and Via Roma to pay homage to the saint, a spectacular tradition deeply linked to Baucina's identity. The festivities are also accompanied by the parade of drummers, whose rhythms fill the village streets.

The agricultural fair and food festival

Alongside the religious dimension, the festival preserves its rural soul with the ancient agricultural tool fair, a testament to the rural economy that still characterizes Baucina, based on farming and livestock. The evenings come alive with the food festival of local products, where you can taste sausage, ricotta, sfince, local appetizers, and the essential pasta ca frittedda, a spring specialty made with fava beans, artichokes, and peas, accompanied by music in the square.

An event to experience

The Saint Mark the Evangelist Festival is much more than a religious anniversary: it is the living story of a community celebrating its origins. For those visiting the province of Palermo in spring, Baucina offers the chance to discover an authentic Sicily, made of popular faith, genuine flavors, and centuries-old traditions.