Feast of San Giuseppe in Porto Empedocle

All the faithful of Porto Empedocle they wait there Feast of St. Joseph impatiently, to celebrate the Patriarch of the Church from the morning.
Porto Empedocle is a beautiful coastal town overlooking the Mediterranean Sea from the southern coast of Sicily in the province of Agrigento. Here St. Joseph, commemorated in the month of March, is celebrated with a very special Feast.

We start with the Procession of the Holy Family, a sacred representation in which the flight of the Holy Family into Egypt is staged with a procession through the streets of the town, one of the most dramatic moments of Jesus' childhood narrated in the New Testament. Afterwards, the faithful gather around the Tavuliata laden, with the tastiest offers of local products for the poor and the distribution of soup; after the Procession through the streets of the town following the simulacrum of San Giuseppe, however, the Pizza Fest, which invites all the faithful to enjoy the Pizza during the Feast of San Giuseppe in Porto Empedocle.

The history of the Feast of San Giuseppe in Porto Empedocle

Rich in traditional events and rites, the Feast of St. Joseph invites the faithful every year to attend performances that tell the Holy Scriptures, but that of San Giuseppe in Sicily it is a real tradition in itself, in fact the cult of San Giuseppe is widespread on the island and the Patriarch of the Church is also the Patron Saint of many municipalities in Sicily.

In Porto Sant'Empedocle, the tradition is kept alive by the San Giuseppe Lavoratori Cultural Association, which organizes the Festival every year. But the surprises of modernity in Porto Empedocle meet tradition and so during the Festival it is also possible to participate in new events, such as that of the Pizza Fest, organized byUnion of Italian Pizza Makers.

When the Feast of San Giuseppe takes place in Porto Empedocle

The Feast of San Giuseppe begins on 19 March at 11:00 and continues until midnight.

Where the Feast of San Giuseppe takes place in Porto Empedocle

The Feast of San Giuseppe is celebrated with solemn Masses at the Church of San Giuseppe the Worker in the center and with the Historical Procession and the Procession that cross the main streets of the town.

What to do during the Feast of San Giuseppe

The Feast of San Giuseppe is the right time to organize a holiday in Sicily: the already warm days, the atmosphere of the Feast and the typical flavors of the local cuisine will transform your stay into a real experience to remember, including visits to the monuments of the center and stops at the restaurant, walks along the seafront and forays into the hinterland.

Starting from the historic centre, in Porto Empedocle there is so much to discover: the Mother Church in Via Roma, with an Art Nouveau style, it was built in 1904 while the Church of the Holy Cross, built in 1997; of the Mountain Palace the remains are visible, while to admire a typical local building we advise you to reach the Empedocles Theater or Customs Palace. Finally, among the more modern monuments of this town, we point out the Monument to the Fallen of the World Wars, while lovers of literature cannot miss the meeting with Il Inspector Montalbano, to be photographed next to the statue of the mythical character of Camilleri; among the other monuments in the centre, we would like to remind you of the one dedicated to the great Luigi Pirandello.

From Porto Empedocle, visit the Port until you reach the lighthouse, while if you love walks on the beach, in addition to the promenade, we recommend you reach the Lido Marinella o big tip. Among the most beautiful villages to visit around Porto Empedocle, here you are Siculiana with the magnificent Mother Church of the Holy Crucifix, Favara all to be discovered starting from Piazza Cavour e Licata, where nature triumphs in the beauties of Cala Paradiso, while history can be read among the stones of the historic centre, from the Cathedral to Villa Bosa.

How to get to Porto Empedocle

Porto Empedocle, in the Free Municipal Consortium of Agrigento, can be reached by car through the SS 186 and the SS 624, to then take the SS 115; who comes on the train, however, will have to get off at Agrigento Central Station and continue the journey by bus or shuttle.