September Festival of Saint Sylvester (September Fair)

The September Festival of Saint Sylvester in Troina

In the village of Troina, perched at over 1,100 meters in the heart of the Nebrodi Park in the province of Enna, the September Festival of Saint Sylvester is the second major devotional event of the year dedicated to the patron saint. While the spring festival in May is more spectacular, the September celebration retains a more intimate, liturgical character, deeply rooted in the memory of the local community.

Saint Sylvester, the Basilian monk and patron of Troina

Saint Sylvester was a monk of the Basilian order who lived between the 11th and 12th centuries. He is venerated for the miracles he performed for the city, which, according to tradition, he saved from the plague multiple times. His statue depicts him in the liturgical blessing posture of the Greek tradition, a testament to the Byzantine and Norman heritage of this territory. The September festivities keep alive the memory of the discovery of the Saint's body and the deep bond between the people and the Basilian fathers.

The procession and the Vara

The heart of the September Festival is the procession of the statue on the Vara. Starting on September 9th, the saint is carried from the Mother Church (the Cathedral of Maria SS. Assunta, the first Norman cathedral in Sicily) to the Church of Saint Augustine, where it remains exposed for the veneration of the faithful for fifteen days. After this period, the statue is returned in a solemn procession to the Mother Church, usually by the second Sunday following the start of the festivities. The days are marked by liturgical celebrations and moments of popular tradition, such as the abbiata di nuciddi, the ancient custom of throwing hazelnuts and sweets into the crowd.

The September Fair

Religious celebrations are accompanied by the historic September Fair, an annual market that attracts vendors and visitors from across the Nebrodi and Enna regions to the center of Troina. Participation is regulated by the Municipality and limited to a set number of vendors—about seventy—for safety and traffic management reasons in the historic center. The stalls offer handicrafts, general goods, and local gastronomic specialties.

The flavors of Troina's tradition

The festival is also an opportunity to rediscover Troina's rural cuisine. Among the most beloved specialties are the vastedda cu sammucu, a fragrant focaccia made with elderflower typical of the village, and nfasciateddi, traditional local pastries. These simple, ancient flavors accompany the festive days and tell the story of the rural identity of this corner of inland Sicily.

Troina, one of Italy's most beautiful villages

Visiting the September Festival also means discovering Troina, which is part of the I Borghi più belli d'Italia (Most Beautiful Villages in Italy) circuit. As the first Norman capital of the island after the conquest by Roger I of Hauteville in 1062, the village preserves medieval alleys, panoramic views of Mount Etna, and a rich historical and religious heritage, all immersed in the nature of the Nebrodi Park.