Saint Vincent Ferrer Festival

A festival that is the soul of Calamonaci

In the heart of the Verdura Valley, in the province of Agrigento, the small town of Calamonaci lives all year round in anticipation of its patronal feast. The Saint Vincent Ferrer Festival is not just a simple date on the calendar: it is the very identity of the town, capable of drawing thousands of visitors, tourists, and returning emigrants on the second Sunday of August, all eager to witness one of the most unique displays of faith and folklore in all of Sicily.

The roots: from 1574 to today

Devotion to Saint Vincent Ferrer has its roots in the very foundation of Calamonaci, dating back to 1574 with the granting of the Licentia Populandi. Ten years later, in 1584, the church dedicated to the Dominican saint was erected, and he became the local patron. Originally, the festival was held during the Easter period, then on the second Sunday of May; since 1975, to meet the urgent requests of emigrants returning in the summer, it has been moved to the first or second weekend of August. A more sober spring liturgical celebration still remains, scheduled for April 17-18, 2026.

The 'rigattiate': two brotherhoods, a centuries-old challenge

The beating heart of the festival is the rigattiate. The population of Calamonaci is divided into two rival religious factions: the sammichilara, devotees of Saint Michael the Archangel, and the sangiuvannara, devotees of Saint John the Baptist. The two brotherhoods compete by carrying the floats, richly decorated with papier-mâché and reeds and adorned with different themes each year, on their bare shoulders while running. The bearers hold laurel branches on Sunday and torches on Friday, accompanied by marches set to the rhythm of the tarantella—the sammichilata and the sangiuvannata—composed specifically for each saint. It is what the inhabitants call the abballata di li Santi (the dance of the Saints), a dance that lasts two evenings and concludes with the victory of the faction that, through decorations, fireworks, and enthusiasm, has best honored its Saint.

The procession and the Mediterranean Pyrotechnic Grand Prix

The most solemn moment is the Sunday evening procession, when the statue of Saint Vincent Ferrer, covered in a precious chasuble studded with gold and silver ex-votos offered by the faithful, slowly traverses the town streets along Corso Garibaldi, amidst believers who donate gold and money as a sign of gratitude. Crowning it all is the pyrotechnic show: since 1963, fireworks have become the distinctive element of the festival, now known throughout Italy for the Mediterranean Pyrotechnic Grand Prix, which attracts the most prestigious national pyrotechnic masters and extends the celebrations late into the night.

A synthesis of faith and folklore

The Saint Vincent Ferrer Festival has been defined as a perfect synthesis of faith and folklore, of religiosity and popular tradition. Alongside the religious events, the program is enriched by exhibitions, sports competitions, and musical and folkloric performances that enliven the Agrigento village. Experiencing these days in Calamonaci means immersing yourself in one of the most authentic and passionate expressions of Sicilian culture.