Feast of San Giovanni Evangelista in San Giovanni la Punta

End of July in the village, in the Metropolitan City of Catania: it's time to Patron Saint a San Giovanni La Punta, a center populated by about 23.000 inhabitants, who gather to celebrate St. John the Evangelist.

La Feast of San Giovanni Evangelista it is a religious and popular event, punctuated by a precise programme: procession of the faithful following the relic of the patron saint on Christmas Eve, unveiling of the simulacrum and traditional offering of wax by the community. From the Church of San Giuseppe to the Mother Church of the town, passing through the main streets of the centre, the Procession arrives in time for the solemn Mass.

On the day of the Feast, the statue of the Saint is exhibited to the faithful in the Mother Church, to then be carried again in a triumphal procession through the streets of the town, amidst music, hosanna, songs and fireworks.

The history of the Feast of San Giovanni Evangelista

St. John the Evangelist is the Patron Saint of San Giovanni La Punta since 1944: in that year, in fact, at the aedicule dedicated to the Saint, a lava flow stopped which threatened the entire town. From that moment, the inhabitants also decided to change the name of the village, which passed from San Giovanni de Nemore to San Giovanni La Punta.

Every year two Festivals are dedicated to the Patron Saint, one in July and one in December, in which, in addition to the religious community, civil and military authorities also participate.

When the Feast of San Giovanni Evangelista takes place in San Giovanni la Punta

The festival takes place in third Sunday of July. On Christmas Eve, however, the first traditional Procession following the Patron Saint begins.

Where the Feast of San Giovanni Evangelista takes place

The Feast of San Giovanni Evangelista takes place in the Church and in the streets of the town: the solemn Mass is held at the Mother Church of San Giovanni Battista, while the Procession crosses the historic center of the town.

What to do during the Feast of San Giovanni Evangelista in San Giovanni La Punta

Taking part in the two-day celebration in honor of the Patron Saint will be a truly exciting experience for visitors, between devotion and joy, prayer and celebrations, lights, fireworks and veneration of the relic: here, in a nutshell, what the Patronal Festival represents in San Giovanni; but if you decide to spend a few days in the village, taking the opportunity to take a holiday in Sicily, also dedicate yourself to discovering the innumerable beauties of the place: in the village, in addition to the Mother Church, you can visit the Church of Sant'Antonio Abate , Church of Santa Maria della Grazia, to name just a few of the many churches that you will find walking around the country. But here is also a short list of the other attractions in the area: from the Zagare Commercial Park to Fairy Park, from the Movie Escape Center where escape games are played to the La Verde La Malfa Foundation Art Park, there is no shortage of initiatives here, from entertainment to culture, including of course bars and restaurants, where you can taste the best of Catania cuisine.

In San Giovanni La Punta you will find the traditional dishes: arancini, Sicilian cannoli and cassate, of course, but also crepes and rice zeppole, cheeses such as caciocavallo and tuma, chives and then pasta alla norma, maccu and beccafico sardines.

If you want to reach the big city from the town, Catania is only 9,6 km away.

How to get to San Giovanni La Punta

San Giovanni La Punta can be easily reached from Catania, but also from the main cities of Sicily.

By car:, we advise you to take the A18 Messina-Catania and take the exit for Acireale, while on the train you can get off at Catania Europa Station and reach the center by bus or shuttle.