Feast of Our Lady of Grace in Alia

Ad Alia, in Metropolitan City of Palermo, Patron Saint of the country is the Our Lady of Grace, which is celebrated in month of July.

With devotion, the faithful of the community celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Grace giving birth to a great country event, which involves not only the local inhabitants, but also those from neighboring countries; the Festival also attracts many tourists every year.

During the Feast the faithful venerate the icon of the Madonna, following her in procession from the Sanctuary to the main streets of the town. At dawn, the Feast is announced with the traditional firing of firecrackers and continues with the solemn Mass in the Sanctuary; after Mass, the Procession sets off through the streets of the town, in which the faithful and the authorities participate. At the end of the Procession, everyone returns to the Church, to watch the fireworks in the late evening and the musical show which concludes the Feast of Our Lady of Grace in Alia.

The history of the Feast of the Madonna delle Grazie in Alia

In the seventeenth century the history of Arab village di Alia meets the story of the baroness Francesca Cifuentes Celestri: it was the baroness who transformed the center into a feud, also importing the cult of Our Lady of Graces to Alia, making her the patron saint of the town.

As tradition dictates, the sacred image of the Virgin, which is normally kept at the Sanctuary, is carried by the faithful through the streets of the town on the occasion of the Feast of the Madonna delle Grazie in Alia in a collective ritual that is repeated year after year.

When the Feast of the Madonna Delle Grazie takes place

Officially, the date of the Festival is the 2 July, but the preparations for the celebrations already begin towards the end of the month of June.

Where the Feast of the Madonna Delle Grazie takes place

Alia rises 700 meters above sea level along the south western slope of the Madonie. In the village, the Mother Church is the Shrine of Our Lady of Grace, symbolic place of the festivities.

What to do during the Feast of the Madonna Delle Grazie in Alia

Those who want to see an authentic Sicilian Patronal Festival up close can transform a simple summer weekend into a real unforgettable holiday in Alia, perhaps with the addition of a few more days, to also admire all the beauties of the surroundings.
Indeed, during the event, visitors can immerse themselves completely in the atmosphere of the Festival, gathering in prayer, participating in the procession, getting to know the local faithful and discovering all the beauties of this ancient town.

Starting from the Mother Church, the Sanctuary dedicated to Santa Maria delle Grazie, a building built in 1630, discover the other religious buildings of the historic centre, such as the Parish of Sant'Anna, Church of Santa Rosalia , Church of St. Joseph. In these sacred places, you can also admire beautiful works of art, such as the wooden simulacrum of Santa Maria delle Grazie, the Our Lady of Sorrows by Civiletti, as well as other works by unknown authors, but capable of capturing the attention of visitors.
After visiting the churches of the village, with a walk in the center you can also discover the Arches of the Sant'Anna district, mysteriously built in the mid-nineteenth century, the Guccione Palace, built in the XNUMXth century by the most powerful family in the country and the different fountains that meet in the squares and alleys.

In the surroundings of Alia you will find interesting archaeological sites, such as the settlement of Cozzo Barbarà and the necropolis of Cozzo Solfara; among the most beautiful natural attractions in the area, visit the Caves of the Gurfa.

How to get to Alia

Alia, about 80 m from Palermo, can be easily reached by car or train.

Who arrives by car, can take the exit towards Scillato from the A19 Palermo-Catania, about 19 km from the village; who travels on the train, can get off at Termini Imerese station and continue by bus or shuttle for the next 22 km towards the centre.