Saint Paul the Apostle Festival

The patronal festival of Pozzallo

The Saint Paul the Apostle Festival is the most anticipated religious and popular event of the summer in Pozzallo, a seaside town in the province of Ragusa, in the far south of Sicily. The festivities are concentrated in the last week of June and culminate on June 29th, the day the Church celebrates Saints Peter and Paul. The heart of the celebrations is the Church of Saint Paul the Apostle on Via Avitabile, around which the entire parish community revolves.

Devotion and the statue

At the center of the festival is the wooden statue of Saint Paul, a hand-painted linden wood sculpture dating back to the early eighties, which replaced a smaller, previously venerated image. On June 25th, the statue is moved from its niche to the main altar of the parish church, marking the official start of the festivities. On the evening of June 28th, the statue remains illuminated only by the candles of the faithful, in a evocative moment of prayer and contemplation that precedes the day of the great feast.

The procession and the «Sciuta»

The most emotional moment is the procession on June 29th: the statue is carried on shoulders along the town streets, decorated with drapes bearing the letter «P», the Saint's initial. The procession opens with the traditional «Sciuta», the exit of the statue accompanied by fireworks that transform the day into a celebration of lights, sounds, and colors, amidst the warmth of the crowd and the ringing of bells.

Between the sacred and the popular

Alongside the religious dimension, the Pozzallo festival weaves in moments of popular gathering. The Sagra ro pani cunzatu, now with nearly thirty years of history, enlivens the churchyard and streets with the tasting of the famous "seasoned bread" of the Iblean tradition, an example of how a few simple ingredients can create a dish rich in flavor. The «Una voce per San Paolo» singing competition brings young people and adults, soloists, and musical groups from Pozzallo and neighboring towns to the stage, in a competition that showcases local talent. The festival, deeply felt in the Diocese of Noto, thus unites the entire community of Pozzallo in an experience of faith, identity, and conviviality.