Feast of Sant'Isidoro in Giarre

In the town of Giarre in the Catania area, one perceives a great sense of devotion and faith, for the Patron Saint, Saint Isidore Agricola and the community remembers and solemnly celebrates it every year with a patronal feast that involves numerous devoted visitors.
Sant'Isidoro Agricola, born in Madrid in 1070, soon left his father's house to work as a farmer dedicating himself to prayer.
Thanks to his commitment to agriculture, the fields bore fruit, although until then they had not produced any at all.

He married the young woman Maria Toribbia when Madrid was conquered by the Almoravids.
A marriage at the service of the poorest for the holy farmer who is remembered for his humility, industriousness and dedication in working the fields.
The celebrations for the Patron Saint begin in the morning involving citizens and tourists.
The event is announced with an opening fireworks and with the celebration of masses in the church of the Duomo.

The real patronal feast begins with the celebration of the evening mass in honor of the Saint, which opens with the exit of the solemn and artistic simulacrum. Some of the village's faithful carry it on their shoulders as a symbol of devotion.
The Simulacrum is usually accompanied by the musical band, the sound of bells and by the nzareddi, strips of colored paper that are used in Sicily on festive occasions to celebrate the Patron Saints.

During the procession, the priests will impart the blessing recalling the blessing of the fields that once took place, today replaced with the blessing of the ears, which maintains the same symbolic value.
At the end of the procession, the day of celebrations ends and the simulacrum is placed inside its chapel.

The story linked to the feast of Sant'Isidoro

Legend has it that in the town of Giarre, two Neapolitan postmen, while watching the lava flow from the town's Piazza Duomo, saw a man wearing shoes, with a stick in his hands, covered by a large cape.
The two scared turned to the man asking him what he was doing in that place. The man replied that he was there on guard, to protect Giarre and disappeared. That man was Saint Isidore and at that moment the lava flow stopped.

When the event takes place

Every year on the 15th of May in Giarre, the patron saint, Sant'Isidoro Agricola, is celebrated.

Where the feast of Sant'Isidoro takes place

The event takes place in Giarre, a small village halfway between Taormina and Catania, an important cultural and naturalistic destination, famous for its iron working.
Part of its territory is part of the Etna Natural Park, of great scenic interest.
In place of Giarre it seems that the Greek city of Callipoli once stood, founded by Chalcidian colonists in the XNUMXth century BC.

The first news of the village dates back to the eighteenth century, when the first inhabited center was formed under the dependence of the county of Mascali.
Its name is to be attributed to the post stations where the jars were placed to water the horses.

What to do during the feast of Sant'Isidoro

Giarre is a very lively town from a cultural and commercial point of view.
A visit to the imposing Cathedral is recommended, in which there are crypts from the late seventeenth century, and the sumptuous pipe organ of the Serassi brothers, one of the most valuable works of art in the church.
It is also possible to see the other churches, the Church of the Oratory of San Filippo Neri, the only example of Sicilian baroque , Church of Jesus the Worker, where a cave like that of was built outside Lourdes.

During the days of the patronal feast you can visit various museums, the museum of folklore, of the crib and of migrations, open all year round.
Also worth a visit is the well of Ruggero I, which sees him as the protagonist of a legend.

How to get to Giarre to attend the feast of Sant'Isidoro

The nearest airport to the town of Giarre is the Catania Fontanarossa airport which is 29 km from Catania. The journey by car has an estimated duration of around 41 minutes. You must follow the A 18 motorway (Catania-Messina) in the direction and exit Giarre. Take the SS114 Orientale Sicula state road and carefully follow the signs.
For those arriving from Palermo: Giarre is 239 km away, about 2 hours and 40 minutes by car.