The Feast of San Placido in Castel di Lucio

In October, at the Parish of Maria SS. of the Graces a Castel di Lucio, we celebrate Saint Placido, Patron Saint of the town; the summer celebrations in August are also dedicated to him.

The Feast of San Placido follows a precise calendar every year: the Festival begins with liturgical celebrations, followed by the descent of the wax, the Procession and the ballet of San Placido. However, already in the previous month, the local inhabitants were preparing to celebrate the festivities with the Novena, the Pilgrimage to the Water of San Placido (to commemorate the miracle that took place in the eighteenth century) and with the representation of the Ascension into Heaven of the Saint.

All projects Eve of the Feast of San Placido, both in the month of August that in the month of October, then the wax descent takes place, during which all the ornaments of the simulacrum of San Placido are brought from the Church of Santa Lucia towards the Mother Church, ready to adorn the vara in procession. During the descent, the faithful light up the night, each carrying a lighted candle in their hand. Upon their arrival, the faithful are blessed by the parish priest, while they sing hymns dedicated to Saint Placido.

The history of the Feast of San Placido in Castel di Lucio

Il cult of San Placidus spread in the sixteenth century. Saint Placido, a native of Rome, was a disciple of Saint Benedict of Norcia, but his remains were found in Messina at the end of the forties of the last century and then taken to Castel di Lucio in January 1950. From that moment, San Placido became the Patron Saint of the town by the will of the faithful, celebrated with the greatest religious honors and with all the spontaneous enthusiasm of the love that the faithful feel for their patron saint.

To testify to the long relationship between the faithful and the Saint, in the village there are also the beautiful and ancient statues made in the past in honor of San Placido, the one from 1599 carved in wood by Giuseppe Li Volsi and the one from 1897, created by Nicolò Campo .

When does the Feast of San Placido take place?

The summer celebration of the Festa takes place the 20 August to allow emigrants to return to the country (while previously, the official date was that of October 5, then also postponed to September 5). The autumn celebrations, on the other hand, take place regularly on October 5st.

Where the Feast of San Placido takes place in Castel di Lucio

The Festival takes place in the small town of Metropolitan City of Messina, at 753 meters above sea level at the Mother Church of the country, Parish of Maria SS. of the Graces.

What to do during the Feast of San Placido in Castel di Lucio

When you participate in the Patron Saint, one participates with joy and devotion in a great religious and popular celebration; on this occasion, you can also discover the beauties of the town, such as the Castle site and the Mother Church, the historic center and the splendid panorama on which the town overlooks.
In the surroundings of the village, you will find the open-air museum named River of Art, with an exhibition of contemporary works and the Overview of San Salvatore, to admire the beauty of the surrounding landscape; at about 20 km there are instead the Mistretta Castle, Sambuchetti Oriented Nature Reserve with the path of the same name and a little further east, the marvelous opens up Nebrod Parki, perfect for those who love hiking in the countryside. Those who prefer the sea can reach the coast at Santo Stefano di Camastra, at 31 km, sul Tyrrhenian Sea.

How to get to Castel di Lucio

Castel di Lucio it is located in the Metropolitan City of Messina and visitors who want to reach the center can do so by travelling on the train o in the car.

Who prefers the train, can get off at Cefalù Station (about 30 km from the centre) and then continue by bus or shuttle to the town.
Who arrives by car, taking the A20 Messina-Buonfornello, he will then have to take the exit for Santo Stefano di Camastra and continue following the indications for the next 13 km.