Santa Tecla Festival and Santuzzi Street Food

A centuries-old devotion in the heart of Carlentini

The Santa Tecla Festival is one of the most anticipated events in the religious and popular calendar of Carlentini, a town in the province of Syracuse, Sicily. Saint Thecla, a virgin and the first disciple of the Apostle Paul, has been venerated for centuries as the co-patron saint of nearby Lentini, and her cult has taken deep root in the Santuzzi district, which owes its name to the Saint. The first celebration in Carlentini dates back to January 10, 1992, a day traditionally linked to the dies natalis of the Saint; since 2004, the main festival has been moved to autumn, fixed on the third Sunday of October.

The procession of the statue

The most solemn moment is the procession of the statue of Saint Thecla, sculpted in 1992, which passes through the streets of the district amidst the moving participation of the faithful. The procession winds through the streets of the neighborhood to the Triumphal Arch, where the statue remains exposed for veneration during the festival days. The days are marked by masses, the ringing of bells, marching bands, and usually close with spectacular fireworks that illuminate the sky of Carlentini.

The Santuzzi Street Food

In recent years, the religious dimension has been joined by the Santuzzi Street Food, a festival spread along Via Santuzzi dedicated to the best Sicilian street gastronomy. Among the stalls, it is possible to taste local specialties, gourmet sandwiches, traditional sweets, and craft beers, in a festive atmosphere that attracts families and visitors from all over the Leontini territory. The evenings are enlivened by live music, DJ sets, cabaret, and comedy shows, featuring performances by bands and artists from the Sicilian scene.

A community festival

The Santa Tecla Festival represents much more than a religious anniversary: it is an identity-defining event for the community of the Santuzzi district and for all of Carlentini, capable of uniting faith, popular traditions, and conviviality. Between processions, the aromas of Sicilian cuisine, and music, the festival restores the authentic face of a village in south-eastern Sicily deeply linked to its roots every year.

• Where: Santuzzi district, Carlentini (SR)
• When: Third Sunday of October
• What: Solemn procession, masses, fireworks, street food, music, and cabaret