Feast of Santa Croce in Casteltermini
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Religious
Among the most important holidays that take place annually in the Agrigento area, we mention the suggestive one Feast of the Holy Cross, an anniversary of casteltermini which contains tradition and folklore.
This is an event that has been repeated every year since early seventeenth century, more precisely in the 1667 , practically shortly after the birth of the same village of Casteltermini, making the Feast of Santa Croce one of the oldest in Sicily.
The event intends to show you the history of Casteltermini and how all the cultural influences that have followed one another over time have allowed a unique folklore of its kind to be passed down to the present day.
The origins of this event can be traced back to Legend of the Tatarata, from which most local traditions began.
When the Feast of Santa Croce takes place in Casteltermini
The Feast of Santa Croce takes place for fourth Sunday of May, even if the various activities start already on the previous Friday.
This holiday is perfect for giving yourself a few days of vacation in Sicily, perhaps to anticipate a relaxing weekend before the start of summer, to discover Casteltermini and all its most fascinating traditions.
Where the Feast of Santa Croce takes place in Casteltermini
The whole historic center of Casteltermini is the protagonist of this event, although the main activities of the Festa di Santa Croce take place in Piazza Duomo, on the setting of Cathedral of San Vincenzo Ferreri, a beautiful building that you will necessarily have to visit during your stay.
What to do at the Feast of Santa Croce in Casteltermini
During the days of the Feast of Santa Croce, numerous attractions will be set up, capable of conquering the curiosity of adults and children. The shows they are the order of the day, as are the fashion shows.
Indeed, i Sicilian folk groups they usually wear the ancient ones for this occasion seventeenth-century clothes , the same ones that the first inhabitants of Casteltermini wore at the time of the foundation of the hamlet, dated to 1629.
One of the most anticipated moments is the Dance of the Tataratà , also known as Battle of the Taratà, in which the participants, dressed in traditional clothes and with real iron swords, show off a particular dance that recalls different cultures, focusing mainly on Arab traditions in Sicily, which, centuries after their domination on the island, continue to prove influential on the development of Sicilian folklore.
How to get to Casteltermini for the Feast of Santa Croce
Participating in the Feast of Santa Croce is the best opportunity to learn about the rich history of Casteltermini, ranging from its traditions to the most ancient customs. Getting to Casteltermini is really simple, as it is served by Highway 189 and by Provincial roads 20, 21 and 22, also crossed by the buses of Azienda Siciliana Trasporti AST.
If you travel by train you can easily get to the Acquaviva – Casteltermini railway station, located just outside the town centre.
Traveling by plane, the closest solution is the Falcone e Borsellino Airport in Palermo, about 100 km away, however well connected to Casteltermini in several ways.
The capital Agrigento is just under 40 km away, from which you can benefit from numerous other arrival points to reach Casteltermini.