Feast of San Rocco in Gibellina

San Rocco is the patron saint of Gibellinain province of Trapani, and every year between 15 and the 16 August his feast is celebrated here.

The inhabitants of Gibellina are very devoted to the patron saint, so edition after edition the celebration is increasingly solemn and grandiose and attracts many faithful from every corner of the world. Here, then, is all the information that can be useful for participating in the Feast of San Rocco in Gibellina.

Description of the feast of San Rocco in Gibellina

La Feast of San Rocco in Gibellina is the celebration held in honor of patron of the city. It is an appointment which, as happens for others of the genre, is able to mix the more religious part with the more profane one, with the presence of food and wine stands, musical performances and much more. For some years, the organizers have been exploiting the notoriety linked to the feast of San Rocco to be able to attract an increasingly large public to the village, in order to make everyone aware of the beauties of this land. Furthermore, in the calendar of events that characterize the feast of San Rocco there are also some folkloristic appointments, such as the parade of drummers.

The story linked to the feast of San Rocco in Gibellina

There is no precise information related to the beginning of the festivities which were dedicated by the inhabitants of Gibellina to San Rocco, the patron saint of the city. Certainly, however, the tradition is very ancient as there are some aspects of the celebrations that date back even to the Saracen domination, such as for example the tradition of the Presents which are decorated drapes that are displayed on the windows of the houses of the village, in honor of the saint and of clear Arab inspiration. After 1968, the year in which theancient village of Gibellina was completely destroyed by a tremendous earthquake, the feast of San Rocco is even more heartfelt and attended, to give thanks to the saint who protected the inhabitants.

When the event takes place

The event linked to the feast of San Rocco in Gibellina is held on 15 and the 16 August, the days that history wants to be those of his death, which occurred during the night. However some preparation events, such as the blessing of dogs, are held from the beginning of the same week.

Where the feast of San Rocco takes place in Gibellina

The feast of San Rocco in Gibellina starts from Mother Church which is dedicated precisely to the patron saint. Subsequently, the statue of the saint is carried in a solemn procession through all the streets of the town. At the end of this, the party gets married in Piazza XV January 1968 where the stage is set up for the concerts and where you can also find the food and wine stands.

What to do during the feast of San Rocco in Gibellina

A few days before the official start of the festival, the delivery of the keys to the city which marks the start of the celebrations. Immediately afterwards mass is celebrated and there is the traditional blessing of the dogs. On the morning of August 16, however, the procession of drummers wakes everyone up because the appointment is at the Mother Church for the blessing of the bread of San Rocco. Then the procession of the statue of the saint starts, which reaches every corner of the town, festively decorated with the typical drapes. When the statue returns to the church and immediately after the solemn mass, the more secular celebration begins, with music concerts, food and wine stands and local crafts.

What if there's some free time left over? There are two attractions that deserve a particular visit: the Museum of Mediterranean Textures, which tells the story of the populations of the Mediterranean basin, and the Cretto di Burri, considered an example of environmental artwork, built on the remains of the old village of Gibellina destroyed by the Belice earthquake.

How to get to Gibellina

It is possible to reach Gibellina with different means, according to the preferences of the visitors. With the'auto, the reference road from Palermo is the A29, with the Mazara del Vallo exit and then continue through the SS119 to your destination. The same route is also possible for those coming from Trapani.

Those who, on the other hand, prefer the train as a means of locomotion, he can refer precisely to the Gibellina station which is a stop on the Alcamo Diramazione-Trapani line. Finally, both from Palermo and Trapani there are buses on the AST line that connect the towns to Gibellina.