San Paolino Festival (Pasquone)

A patronal feast with medieval roots

The San Paolino Festival, affectionately known by locals as "Pasquone" because it falls the day after Easter Monday, is the most deeply felt religious and popular celebration in Sutera, a charming village in the province of Caltanissetta, in the heart of Sicily. Every year, on the Tuesday following Easter, the entire town gathers at the foot of the Rocca to honor its two co-patrons: Saint Paolino, Bishop of Nola, and Saint Onofrio, a hermit venerated throughout the region.

Origins and sacred relics

The festival's roots date back centuries, following the translation of the two saints' sacred relics. According to tradition, the remains were transported to Rome and eventually reached Sutera, where they are kept inside "li Santi Casci", the precious reliquary urns. The silver urn of Saint Paolino dates back to 1498 and represents one of the most important examples of 15th-century Sicilian goldsmithing; the urn of Saint Onofrio, in the Baroque style, was crafted in 1649. The sanctuary that dominates the top of the Rocca was built in the 14th century by the Chiaramonte family.

The procession of "li Santi Casci"

The highlight is the spectacular procession: at the end of the Eucharistic celebration, the two urns and the statue of Saint Paolino are carried on the shoulders of the town's three confraternities, each wearing their traditional attire—the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament (the whites), the Holy Spirit (the reds), and Mary Most Holy of the Agonizing (the greens). The procession winds through the narrow streets and winding stairways of the village, from the sanctuary on the Rocca down to the Church of Sant'Agata. The following Sunday, the statues and "li Santi Casci" return to the Rocca, concluding the festival cycle.

Traditions, views, and gastronomy

By tradition, the inhabitants ring the great bell located on the mountain's summit as an act of homage to the patron saints. From the top of the Rocca, one can enjoy an enchanting panorama that stretches across almost every corner of Sicily. During the festival days, the village comes alive with faithful and visitors who climb up on foot to witness the procession, in an atmosphere of profound devotion and popular warmth. To crown the festivities, the Pitirri Festival, promoted by the local Pro Loco, offers the typical local dish prepared with hand-sifted durum wheat semolina and seasoned with wild local herbs.