Feast of San Luigi Gonzaga in Rosolini

In the month of August the city of Rosolini, a charming town in the province of Syracuse, celebrates its patron saint. The feast of San Luigi in Rosolini is a deeply felt event which over the years has united the sacred with the profane, gathering an ever-growing public united by faith in the saint but also by the desire to have fun and live a truly engaging folk experience for the participants. Here's everything you need to know to participate in the party in Rosolini.

Description of the feast of San Luigi in Rosolini

The feast of San Luigi Gonzaga in Rosolini is an unmissable event not only for the inhabitants of Rosolini but also for the many visitors who come here every year to celebrate the patron and take part in religious and non-religious celebrations.

The appointment, which has been celebrated for many years, includes several stages even if the most important event is certainly the procession that carries the simulacrum of San Luigi around the streets of the town, accompanied by a procession of faithful who sing the songs of the saint.

Unmissable moments of the party, however, are also the fireworks that are organized at the end of the party and the many other events that every year make up a calendar full of activities for all types of audience, both young and old.

The story linked to the event at the feast of San Luigi Gonzaga in Rosolini

Until 1754, the patroness of Rosolini was the Immaculate Madonna. Then in that year it was decided to dedicate her honor to San Luigi Gonzaga, for her presence always immolated for charity since childhood.

The story of Luigi Gonzaga is quite emblematic and it is understandable why he was chosen with such great conviction by the inhabitants of Rosolini. Coming from a noble family, Luigi was educated by his father as a knight in arms but as a teenager the boy hear God's call and decides to dedicate his life to the Lord.

After giving up all his wealth and noble title, he decides to go to Rome but here he falls ill with the plague and dies, not before having sacrificed himself and carrying a dying man on his shoulder. Hence the decision to choose him as patron saint: for centuries on his feast day a large procession has been celebrated in Rosolino to honor the saint.

When does the festivity of San Luigi take place in Rosolini?

The feast of San Luigi in Rosolini is celebrated every year in first Sunday of August, so every year the date changes according to the calendar. However the celebrations last longer and culminate with the Sunday procession and fireworks which close what are usually four days of celebrations.
Usually in the first three most appointments are held worldly and folklore while the last is dedicated to the procession with the statue of the saint.

Where the event takes place

The event takes place throughout the municipality of Rosolini. Religious celebrations start from Mother Church where the relics of the saint are kept and are carried around the town, touching all the main places.

The more folkloric celebrations, on the other hand, have their nucleus in Piazza Garibaldi, where, among other things, the stage is set up for shows and concerts as well as the stands of food and wine products that delight the palate of all those present. The fireworks display is also organized in that same square, to the delight of young and old.

What to do during the feast of San Luigi in Rosolini

The festivity of San Luigi in Rosolini is a deeply felt event especially by young people, given that Luigi Gonzaga is also considered the patron saint of youth. Precisely for this reason, the festival that is dedicated to him every year includes different moments that involve every day of the celebrations and are designed to involve the public between theatrical performances and musical appointments.

Obviously the most heartfelt day is that of the procession of the saint, which begins early in the morning with 21 blank cannon shots which at 7.15 precisely kick off Luigi's day. Immediately after there is the first holy mass while at 19.30 the solemn Eucharistic celebration is held which is the moment of the beginning of the liturgy which will then lead to the procession.

The route of the latter starts from Corso Savoia, where the Mother Church is located with the simulacrum of the saint, and then goes along Via Platamone, Via Immacolata, Via Eloro and Via Roma. The route then continues along Via Matteotti, obviously Via Gonzaga, Via Rapisardi, Via Sipione and Corso Savoia, to finally arrive in Piazza Garibaldi where the collective blessing takes place before the statue is brought back to the church.
After this last step, the party explodes into joy, with fireworks, a musical show and stands with delicious local products.

How to get to Rosolini

Getting to Rosolini is very simple as the locality is well connected to the main cities of the island.
For example, those wishing to come by car from Catania will have to take the E45 with the Rosolini exit, while those coming from Palermo will follow the motorway that connects the capital to Catania and from there proceed with the road indicated above.