Solemn Celebrations in Honor of Saint Calogero

The patronal festival of Favara

The Solemn Celebrations in honor of Saint Calogero represent the most anticipated moment of the year for the community of Favara, a populous town in the province of Agrigento, in the heart of Sicily. Dedicated to the Black Saint, a hermit and miracle-worker deeply rooted in Sicilian popular devotion, the festival unites faith, tradition, and social spirit, drawing thousands of faithful and visitors to the streets of the historic center every year.

The cult of the Black Saint

Saint Calogero is one of the most beloved saints in the Agrigento area, venerated as a protector and healer. In Favara, his cult revolves around the Church of Saint Calogero and the historic 17th-century wooden statue, jealously guarded by the community. To preserve the ancient statue, a faithful resin copy was created in 2026 using 3D scanning of the original. It was blessed on June 18th during a city-wide Mass presided over by the Bishop of Caltagirone, Monsignor Calogero Peri, accompanied by the distribution of a giant cake weighing over 100 kilograms.

Rites and traditions

The heart of the festival is the solemn procession of the statue which, on the main day, travels through the streets of Favara to Piazza Cavour, accompanied by the traditional acchianata and the sound of drums. Among the most heartfelt moments is the distribution of blessed bread, an ancient gesture of charity and faith that characterizes devotion to the Black Saint throughout Sicily. Liturgical celebrations continue for days, from the first Masses at dawn to evening services.

Entertainment and festive moments

Alongside the religious dimension, the festivities offer a rich entertainment program: dance evenings, cabaret shows, vintage car and motorcycle rallies, tournaments, and above all, the concerts in Piazza Cavour that enliven the Favara nights. The festival traditionally closes with a grand fireworks display and the final concert, the true popular climax of the event.

A defining appointment

Organized by the Saint Calogero Parish, led by Father Ignazio Puccio, together with the Saint Calogero Cultural and Volunteer Association, the festivities are much more than a religious feast: they are the living expression of the identity of Favara and the Province of Agrigento, an occasion where the entire community gathers around its patron in a climate of joy and participation.