San Vincenzo Ferreri Feast and 'Correva l'anno 1629' Historical Re-enactment

The patronal feast of Casteltermini

The San Vincenzo Ferreri Feast is the primary religious and popular celebration in Casteltermini, a town in the hinterland of the Agrigento province, in central-southern Sicily. For a few days, the entire community unites around its patron saint in a blend of devotion, historical memory, and street festivities that also draw numerous emigrants back to their hometown for the occasion.

San Vincenzo Ferreri and the 1629 founding

San Vincenzo Ferreri (1350-1419) was a famous Dominican preacher born in Valencia, Spain. His bond with Casteltermini is profound: the village originated from the Castello dei Termini and was founded on April 5, 1629, by Baron Giovanni Vincenzo Maria Termini e Ferreri, a descendant of the saint, who chose him as the protector of the new community. This is the inspiration for the historical re-enactment 'Correva l'anno 1629', which brings those founding moments back to life every year.

The historical re-enactment and pageant

Among the most anticipated moments is the event 'Correva l'anno 1629... Elezione della Dama delle Terre di Chiuddia' (Election of the Lady of the Lands of Chiuddia), organized by the Pro Loco in collaboration with the Corteo Storico Principi Termini e Ferreri association. Performers in period costumes parade through the town, re-enacting the founding and the history of the baronial family in a spectacle that combines historical reconstruction, folklore, and the popular traditions of the Casteltermini community.

Religious rites

The spiritual heart of the feast is marked by traditional rites: solemn masses in the Mother Church, the pilgrimage to the chapel on the highest rock of the town, the distribution of traditional blessed bread, and, above all, the solemn procession of the statue of the saint, carried on shoulders through the streets of the historic center, accompanied by the faithful until the final blessing in the square.

Entertainment and atmosphere

Alongside the religious dimension, the feast offers entertainment for all ages: evening shows, music, and market stalls enliven the squares, while fireworks in Piazza Duomo bring the celebrations to a spectacular close. It is the ideal opportunity to discover the hospitality and traditions of an authentic inland Sicilian village, far from the most beaten tourist paths.