Torchlight procession of the Immaculate Conception in Sciara

Sciara, 210 meters above sea level from the slopes of Monte San Calogero, is a small town in the Metropolitan City of Palermo. The town, like many of the Sicilian communities, is devoted to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception.

La Feast of the Immaculate Conception in Sciara it is a very special event, by virtue of the devotion with which the faithful turn to the Madonna the graces and the ancient traditions that are handed down from generation to generation.

We're talking about Torchlight procession, when before sunrise hundreds and hundreds of faithful pave the way for the passage of the statue of the Madonna, carrying the scumbags, particular torches obtained from the saracchio (or disa). During the procession, the faithful sing ancient songs dedicated to the Virgin. At 6.30 in the morning, the evocative Procession ends in front of the Church, where the faithful attend the Aurora Mass.

The story linked to the Feast of the Immaculate Conception in Sciara

What today appears as one of the most evocative traditions of the island, the Procession illuminated by disa torches, actually arises from the concrete need of the faithful to illuminate their path in the dark of the night, during the descent from Monte San Calogero.

The Feast of the Immaculate Conception in Sciara is a centuries-old tradition, during which all the faithful of the community pay homage to the Patron Saint.

When the Feast of the Immaculate Conception takes place in Sciara

The Feast of the Immaculate Conception in Sciara takes place on8 December: the Procession begins in the middle of the night, while the Dawn Mass is celebrated at 6.30. Solemn Mass and a second Procession also take place in the afternoon.

Where the Feast of the Immaculate Conception takes place in Sciara

The Feast of the Immaculate Conception in Sciara is characterized by the Procession from Monte San Calogero, while the solemn Mass is celebrated in the Mother Church of the town.

What to do during the Feast of the Immaculate Conception in Sciara

To participate in the Feast of the Immaculate Conception in Sciara in its most engaging moment, it is necessary to wake up before dawn, but it is a small commitment that will be amply repaid by all the magic of the Procession: the Sicilian night, illuminated by the typical torches, will be able to capture all your attention, giving you the energy that is released when you do something extraordinary.

Sciara also offers you more, such as the places in the centre, where you can have a tasty breakfast with typical Sicilian sweets to start your holiday day in the best possible way.

Continue with a tour of the Old Town, discovering the Church of Sant'Anna Nuova, where you can admire the sculptures of the great contemporary artist Arnaldo Pomodoro; in the old one Church of Sant'Anna, instead, you will be able to observe the testimonies of the Gothic style, visible above all in the spiers of the bell towers. Inside the churches of the village it is also possible to admire extraordinary works of sacred art, the result of the work of great artists and sculptors, such as Civiletti and Treccani.

The other great attraction of Sciara is undoubtedly the Archaeological Museum of Traditions, where in addition to the ancient crafts and tools used to work the land, it is also possible to discover more recent features of the town's history.

In the surroundings of Sciara there is the archaeological site of Pregne walls, where it is possible to admire the megalithic walls and a sepulchral dolmen from the XNUMXth century BC as well as ruins of the Church of Sant'Elia.

Those who love nature, near Sciara can visit the Monte San Calogero Nature Reserve, where there are various excursion routes, with the possibility of trekking in the wonderful protected area overlooking the Gulf of Castellammare.

In the coldest months of the year, the Sicilian sea is the perfect setting for a walk on the beach and so why not reach out Trabia, about 19 km away, where it will be possible to stroll along the seafront and visit the Lanza Branciforte Castle, to add a touch of romance to your Sicilian holiday?

How is it possible to get to the Feast of the Immaculate Conception in Sciara

Sciara, in the Metropolitan City of Palermo, can be reached easily in the car: from the A19 Palermo-Catania, take the Agglomerato Industriale exit, which is located about 7 km from the town. Also on the train, it is easy to arrive, getting off at Termini Imerese station, which is located 8 km from the center, where you will find buses and shuttles going to the center.