Feast of the Madonna del Mirto in Villafranca Sicula

A Villafranca Sicula every year, on the first Sunday of August, the feast of the Madonna del Mirto, co-patron of the small town. It is a very heartfelt appointment, which is also characterized by a singular legend, for which numerous tourists arrive every year as well as natives of the locality who have long since moved elsewhere and take advantage of the anniversary to return to the village. Those who are willing to take part will find below all the information on the party.

Description of the feast of the Madonna del Mirto

It is about the celebration of the feast of co-patron saint of the town, which every year attracts numerous onlookers, interested not only in the religious aspect of the event but also in the more folkloristic one.

The appointment begins with the holy mass after which there is the procession that leads through the streets of the town not only the painting of the Madonna del Mirto but also the simulacrums of San Michele and San Giovanni, which will then be the great protagonists of the second part of the festival, which is represented by the classic Rigattiate.
The day officially ends with the fireworks competition but in reality the party continues with the stalls of typical products as well as the music and cabaret shows that enrich the event calendar every year.

The story linked to the feast of the Madonna del Mirto in Villafranca Sicula

The devotion to the Madonna del Mirto is linked to one legend very particular. According to this story, a friar of Burgio in an unspecified past he was carrying two paintings of the Madonna to the convent but, having reached his destination, he realized he had lost one on the way. Returning back to look for it, he found it under a myrtle bush, picked it up and took it to the convent but the next day the painting disappeared again, reappearing again under the usual bush.
The monk understood that the Madonna wanted a church dedicated to her to be built in that very place and so it happened. In the following two years the church was built while the feast of the Madonna del Mirto is more recent, at least as it is known today.

When the feast of the Madonna del Mirto takes place

The feast of the Madonna del Mirto is organized every year there first Sunday of August, even if some side events are already organized in the days immediately preceding the official celebrations.

Where the feast of the Madonna del Mirto takes place in Villafranca Sicula

The festival is held throughout the town as the event is characterized above all by the procession that takes place throughout the municipal area.

What to do during the feast of the Madonna del Mirto in Villafranca Sicula

The party begins with the faithful of the two factions, i Sammichelari and Sangiovannari who carry the statues of the two saints around the town first in a swirling dance, according to the practice of the Rigattiate, and then on carts which are made according to the theme of the year that characterizes the party, to pay homage to the Madonna.

The solemn mass is held immediately after and at the end of this it is the turn of the painting of the Madonna del Mirto which must be carried around. To conclude the event there is the competition for pyrotechnics which every year has seen the participation of international artists in the sector. For those who want to give themselves a few hours to visit the village, a visit to the Carmelite church and Church of St. John the Baptist but also a tour of the alleys of the historic center to discover the murals.

How to get to Villafranca Sicula

Those who wish to reach Villafranca Sicula can move with theauto from the main Sicilian cities.

From Palermo, it is necessary to take the SS624 to the destination while from Agrigento it is necessary to take the SS115. Those coming from Catania, on the other hand, must first take the A19 and then continue to their destination on the SS640.

Unfortunately Villafranca Sicula does not have its own train station but those who want to travel on the train they can refer to those of Acquaviva or of Cammarata San Giovanni Gemini and then from there continue with the service of bus numbers locals.