San Cono Festival

San Cono, the patron saint of Naso

The San Cono Festival is the most significant religious and popular event in Naso, a small village in the Nebrodi mountains within the Metropolitan City of Messina, Sicily. The saint being celebrated is Abbot Saint Cono, a Basilian monk who lived in the village during the 12th-13th century and is venerated as the town's patron. Tradition holds that upon his death, the town's bells rang on their own, "touched by no one": since then, the bond between Naso and its saint has never been broken.

A festival recognized by the Sicily Region

Due to its ritual richness and identity value, the San Cono Festival has been inscribed in the Register of Intangible Heritage of the Sicily Region since 2014. It is not merely a liturgical celebration, but a living heritage made of gestures, songs, symbols, and an entire community gathering around its patron.

Key highlights

• The pilgrimage to Rocca d'Almo: on the eve of the festivities, devotees make a pilgrimage to the sites linked to the saint's cult.
• The translation of the relics and the simulacrum from the Temple of San Cono to the Mother Church, accompanied by a candlelight procession through the historic center.
• The solemn procession of September 1st: on the main day, the saint's bust and sacred relics are carried in procession towards the Bazia district, reaching the sanctuary of Maria SS. della Catena.
• The Octave of San Cono: on September 8th, marking the end of the festivities, the saint and the relics return to the Temple of San Cono.

Between the sacred and the profane

Alongside the religious dimension, the days of the festival animate Piazza Roma and the center of Naso with brass band performances, shows, the "Viva San Cono" amateur footrace, market stalls, and major evening concerts featuring well-known names from the Italian music scene. The festival traditionally concludes with a fireworks display. The Municipality of Naso also provides free shuttle buses to facilitate visitor access.

Visiting Naso during the festival

Nestled at an altitude of about 490 meters between the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Nebrodi mountains, Naso offers an authentic glimpse of traditional Sicily during the festival: historic alleyways, the Baroque Temple of San Cono with its chapel of relics, panoramic views of the coast, and the hospitality of its residents. An ideal opportunity to discover a part of the Messina hinterland often far from the major tourist flows.