Volto Santo Festival

A centuries-old devotion in the Messina hills

The Volto Santo Festival is the most deeply felt religious celebration in Venetico Superiore, the ancient hilltop heart of the municipality of Venetico, in the province of Messina (Sicily). Every year on August 6th—the day the Church celebrates the Transfiguration of the Lord—the entire village gathers around the venerated image of the Face of Christ, kept in the Mother Church dedicated to Saint Nicholas the Bishop, the town's patron saint.

The 1625 icon

The heart of the festival is a painting depicting the Volto Santo (Holy Face), inspired by the shroud that, according to tradition, was placed on Jesus' face after his death. The sacred image dates back to 1625: that year, Don Giuseppe Spadafora Moncada, Prince of Maletto and Baron of Venetico, obtained a faithful copy of the Holy Face from Pope Urban VIII to be kept in the local church. Since then, the devotion has become deeply rooted in the community, passed down from generation to generation.

The August 6th procession

The highlight of the event is the procession: the Volto Santo painting is carried through the ancient streets of Venetico Superiore, starting from the Mother Church where it is housed and reaching Piazza Immacolata, where the faithful receive a solemn blessing. Accompanied by the clergy and a large gathering of devotees, the procession winds through the village amidst prayers, hymns, and the moving participation of the entire community.

A festival of faith and people

Alongside the religious rites, the event takes on the character of an authentic village festival: on the evenings dedicated to the Volto Santo, the village comes alive with artistic illuminations, concerts, and firework displays that conclude the festivities. It is a time for the people of Venetico—both residents and those who have returned home from abroad—to share in a tradition that weaves together identity, memory, and belonging.

Venetico and its territory

The municipality of Venetico is divided between the historic village of Venetico Superiore, perched on the hills, and Venetico Marina, overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea along the Messina coast. The Mother Church of San Nicolò, dating back to the 16th century, stands near a scenic monumental fountain and serves as the guardian of local devotion. The Volto Santo Festival is part of a rich religious calendar that also includes the Feast of the Madonna del Carmelo in July and the feast of the patron saint, Saint Nicholas, in December.