Historical parade of Santa Rita and the Castelvetranese Nobility

An event that has been taking place in Castelvetrano for several years, with the participation of local inhabitants, artists, folk groups and medieval musicians.

Daughter of two peacemakers, Santa Rita (Margherita Lotti) was born in the XNUMXth century, got married and started a family. However, her husband, faithful to the Emperor, is brutally killed and Margherita is above all concerned never to foster in her two children the desire for revenge against the murderers of her father, so as not to see them overwhelmed by the spiral of violence; However, she is unable to save the family from her pain and soon the two boys also die, due to the plague.

It is following these painful events that the woman, now left irremediably alone, finds ever greater comfort in Christ: in 1407, at the age of 36, Margherita Lotti enters the Monastery and consecrates his life to prayer. She is close to her death, but she asks God for a sign from her, to understand if her prayers for the heavenly salvation of her husband and her children have been heard.

On a cold January of 1457, Margherita asked a relative who was visiting her in the monastery for two roses and two figs; a foil, she wanted a sign to understand if Heaven had heard her prayers: an exceptional harvest in the coldest period of the year. Having obtained the fruits, trusting in the Lord's mercy, Margherita passed away on the night between May 21st and 22nd, certain that her husband and her children were in Heaven.

The central theme of the detailed historical re-enactment is therefore the life of Saint Rita, from childhood to marriage, from widowhood to the novitiate. In the perfect reconstruction of a medieval scenography, the procession of paintings moves, showing the public the most important scenes of the Saint's life.

The event ends with “Proclamation of the First Prince of the City” Charles of Aragon and Tagliavia. A religious and historical festival, in medieval dress, with music and activities typical of the time, which bring a never forgotten tradition back to life.

The procession of Santa Rita, a day of medieval celebration

Performed for the first time in 2002, the Historical parade of Santa Rita and the Castelvetranese Nobility begins, year after year, at 17 pm on 20 of May: hundreds of participants in costume, flag-wavers, musicians and court jesters lead the procession, with the sound of the drums they catalyze the attention of the spectators and catapult them back through the centuries.
This is followed by 7 groups who reproduce the paintings of Santa Rita's life, staging her story and showing it to the public, who admires the entire procession, discovering the story of the Saint, from childhood to the Novitiate.

There are 7 squares in the city decorated with flowers, festoons and images. When the procession arrives in front of the image of Santa Rita, the Procession ends: the Parish Priest and the Mayor greet the Saint and the First Citizen of Castelvetrano offers the Saint of Cascia, as a symbolic gift, a votive lamp.

Flag-wavers, musicians and comedians are also the protagonists of the Procession of the Castelvetranese Nobility, which crosses the streets of the center carrying the Jury, the silver mace symbol of the city's Juror: this procession, which recalls sixteenth-century clothes, dances and hymns, ends in the evening in front of the Church of the Purgatory, where the rite of Proclamation is "celebrated". First Prince of the City of Charles of Aragon and Tagliavia.

I Aragonese drums they accompany the entire celebration, in a great historical re-enactment that involves the whole city between religion and tradition.

Castelvetrano, theater of history and art

On the occasion of the Historical Procession of Santa Rita and the Castelvetranese Nobility, the city is transformed into a stage and not only the inhabitants, but above all the tourists, can rediscover two important historical periods through the representation of the Procession. Castelvetrano then becomes the theater of history, but those who stay in the city on the occasion of the parade will be able to discover how the town is also the scene of a rich artistic and cultural show, offering visitors many attractions, both in the center and in the surrounding areas.

In the centre, you can visit the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, Mother Church of Castelvetrano and treasure chest containing sacred treasures from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries or the Church of San Domenico, built in the XNUMXth century and Mausoleum of the Prince's family, Church of the Holy Trinity of Delia , Church of the Purgatory, one of the symbolic places of the Historical Parade; the civil architecture in Castelvetrano is also numerous, such as the Selinus Theater or Bonsignore Palace.

Among the natural beauties of the area there is the Belice Reserve, natural habitat of Loggerhead Turtle or the Tre Fontane beach, a perfect seaside resort for families with children, because here the waters, in addition to being transparent, are almost always calm.

For those looking for culture and more information on the area, there are numerous museums: among all, don't miss the Permanent Exhibition on the Historical Parade of Santa Rita, to delve deeper into all the historical aspects linked to the great event of Castelvetrano.

Anyone who stays in the city for a few days and also wants to explore the surroundings can go up to Selinunte, to visit the Archaeological Park with its beautiful XNUMXth century BC temples made from local limestone that was quarried from Cave of Cusa, a site now open to the public, among the main attractions of the area.

Castelvetrano awaits you

Castelvetrano, in the Free Municipal Consortium of Trapani, can be reached by car via the A29 Palermo-Mazara del Vallo, in the direction of Trapani, until the exit for Castelvetrano, or by train getting off directly at the Castelvetrano railway station. The city of the Corteo di Santa Rita is also famous for its delicious local products, such as fresh or sweet and sour tuna, dried figs and excellent wines such as Alcamo DOC: to discover the history, traditions and flavors of Sicily, you simply organize a stay in Castelvetrano