Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Santa Maria di Licodia

La Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Santa Maria di Licodia it aims to demonstrate the utmost devotion to the Mother of God by the entire local community, which looks forward to this event.

History of the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Santa Maria di Licodia

The origins of this religious festival date back to 1902, when Mr. Giuseppe Anile donated to Mother Church an Art Nouveau simulacrum depicting the Virgin Mary, characterized by a very sweet facial expression and therefore capable of conveying extreme comfort towards the faithful.
The devotion and cult for the latter increased, so much so that in 1924 the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
In 1938 the Madonna was proclaimed both Queen of the Licodiesi and co-patron of the locality.

When does the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel take place?

The Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel takes place on 16 and the 17 July of each year.

Where the Madonna del Carmelo Festival takes place

The event is held in Santa Maria di Licodia and starts from Church of the Madonna del Carmelo.
Throughout the month, the commission also travels around the locality asking for a donation to organize the celebrations.

What to do during the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

If you go to Santa Maria di Licodia to take part in the festival, it is good to know that it is announced on June 16 with the firing of a few cannon shots.
After the celebration of Holy Masses with blessing followed byimposition of devotional dresses, at noon the solemn supplication is recited.
The most awaited event, however, is the release of the simulacrum to be carried in procession through the main streets of the municipality.

The statue, decorated with numerous jewels donated by the faithful, is welcomed by fireworks, the launch of flyers, the sound of festive bells and the musical band.
Fireworks are also planned on the occasion of the return to the church.

The following day has the same characteristics as the one before, only that, during the second processional procession, the faithful who tragically disappeared on the occasion of the Feast of the Madonna del Carmelo are commemorated.
The event is concluded with a grandiose fireworks display.

Since you are in Santa Maria di Licodia, it is advisable to visit the Cherub Fountain, built in the second half of the eighteenth century and fed by a natural spring.
It's just as beautiful Town Hall, erected in 1662 and current municipal seat.
The symbol of the country, however, is the Bell tower, a crenellated building from 1143 and dedicated, according to the Benedictine tradition, to San Nicolò.
On the facade is the coat of arms of Abbot Bishop Platamone, who was responsible for the restoration in 1454.

How to get to Santa Maria di Licodia

Santa Maria di Licodia has just under eight thousand inhabitants and is located in the province of Catania, which is about half an hour away fromauto.
To reach this locality you have to take the Provincial Road 121 or the Provincial Road 4/11.

By train, convoys departing from the Catania Centrale station are also scheduled to stop at Vizzini-Licodia. In this case the journey time is one hour and forty minutes.