Patronal feast of San Lorenzo Martire in Aidone

The patronal feast of San Lorenzo Martire in Aidone

On August 10th, the day of San Lorenzo, in the Free Municipal Consortium of Enna, to Aidone in Sicily, it is celebrated the Patronal Feast of San Lorenzo Martire. This anniversary, with which the whole town honors the ancient deeds of the Saint, was established in 1810 and is commemorated with a procession through the streets of Aidone. But the celebrations actually begin much earlier: there are 10 days preceding this date, during which both the Church and the Municipality offer all the faithful, citizens and tourists, the opportunity to be together dedicating themselves to the community and to religious reflection .
Every day preceding the patronal feast is dedicated to the members of the community: young people, families, associations, elderly people: everyone can gather in prayer, before accompanying the simulacrum of the patron saint in procession, between music and games in the town square.

The origins of the patronal feast of San Lorenzo Martire in Aidone

San Lorenzo he has been the patron saint of Aidone for about 500 years, that is, since the Roman family of Gioieni Column introduced the cult of Martyr in Sicily, after having received the grace of a son through the intercession of the Saint. In the sixteenth century it was also built in Aidone la Mother Church of San Lorenzo and it is precisely near the place of worship, as the deeds of the Saint narrate, that the Patron Saint managed to save the town from plague: in those years, in fact, Sicily was tormented by the plague and a traveling merchant had arrived in Aidone, stopping near the church with his stall and risking bringing the plague to the town too. But it was San Lorenzo himself, leaving the church according to the testimony of a nun, who set fire to the stall, thus avoiding the spread of the plague in Aidone. Since then the link of the community with the Patron Martyr has been increasingly strengthened through the cult of the Saint, officially celebrated since 1810, with the traditional procession.

When the feast of San Lorenzo Martire takes place in Aidone

All of Italy remembers San Lorenzo on the saint's day, which occurs on August 10th. In Aidone, however, the festival is a real event in the Sicilian summer. In fact, as is customary in places that have a strong link with rural traditions, summer is the best time to celebrate the memory of the patron saint, because the abundance of fruits of the earth traditionally allows many first fruits to be offered as homage to the Saint.
Today, the tradition is maintained, and the population of Aidone remembers its Patron Saint with the celebrations which also coincide with the night of the shooting stars and see a shower of fireworks starting from the earth to commemorate San Lorenzo.

Where the feast of San Lorenzo Martire takes place in Aidone

Aidone is located in the Free Municipal Consortium of Enna, in the heart of Sicily, and is easily accessible from all the main cities of the island. Here the natural beauty of the Erei Mountains it frames the town, which stands about 600 meters above sea level. The territory surrounding the municipality, although not directly overlooking the sea, is crossed by Gornalunga river, which flows into Ogliastro lakemaking the area fertile.

What to do during the feast of San Lorenzo Martire in Aidone

The Feast of San Lorenzo Martire in Aidone culminates with the procession along the streets of the town, during which the simulacrum of the saint, accompanied by the relic in the silver arm, is carried by the faithful through the streets of the town; the party ends in the middle of the night, when everyone can admire the fireworks in honor of San Lorenzo, as well as the shooting stars. But even in the previous days there are opportunities to celebrate and get together: for this reason, the patronal feast can be an excellent opportunity to organize a trip to Sicily in the summer, giving yourself the opportunity to enjoy the natural beauty and hospitality of the Sicilians.
The masses, the special days organized by the Church and the Municipality, the sports tournaments and musical competitions (in which the town band also participates) are perfect moments to experience the reality of the island up close, in direct contact with the inhabitants of the country and to have fun together. Furthermore, in Aidone you can admire very interesting architectural beauties, both in the town and in the surrounding areas.
In the municipality, we note the presence of numerous churches, starting from the Mother Church of San Lorenzo, the Church of Santa Maria la Cava with the beautiful Adelasia Tower, the Church of Sant'Anna with the Cloister. Among the civil architecture, however, there are the Castellaccio of medieval origin and the Pietratagliata Castle, whose origins date back to the XNUMXth century.
If you stay in the town for a few more days, you can also plan an excursion in the beautiful area in the province of Enna, admiring the nature of central Sicily, or visit one of the six most important archaeological sites on the island, the Greek city of Morgantina, which rises in a plain surrounded by rolling hills and already in prehistoric era had been chosen as a settlement, sinceBronze Age.

How to get to the patronal feast of San Lorenzo Martire in Aidone

The central position of Aidone in Sicily makes the town easily reachable from the main cities of the island, by car or by train.
From Palermo, take the A19 towards Catania, taking the Agira or Mulinello exits, both about 16 km from the town.
By train, the closest railway station is Caltanissetta Centrale, about 35 km away: the town can be reached by private shuttle or bus from the station.