Feast of San Sebastiano in Ferla

The Feast of San Sebastiano in Ferla is an event particularly loved by the local religious community: so strong is the bond of the faithful with their Patron Saint, that in the town the Feast of San Sebastiano is celebrated both in the month of January and in the month of July.

The most important places in the village, such as the square and the main church, are dedicated precisely to the Patron Saint and on holidays they become the symbolic places of the celebrations: in the Baroque Basilica of San Sebastiano masses are celebrated in honor of the Patron Saint and it is from the square of the same name that the Procession of the Simulacrum of the Saint.
A statue, the one representing the Patron Saint of Ferla, with very ancient origins: it was in fact created in 1530 and represents San Sebastiano subjected to martyrdom.

The day before the Festa, there is the curruta, that is the moment in which the statue of San Sebastiano is unveiled before the eyes of the faithful, gathered around him and with devotion around the altar of the great Church. The faithful sing and pray together, thus beginning their veneration of the relic, while later, towards evening, the statue is carried in procession through the streets of the town.

For the occasion, the streets of Ferla are filled with fixed lights that illuminate the path of the Saint and the Faithful, accompanied by the musical tribute of the Town Band.

The following day, sacred celebrations take place in the Church, with masses attended by all the faithful; the party ends in the churchyard, but still until the end of the month Simulacrum of San Sebastiano it remains exposed to the veneration of the faithful, to be covered by the veil at the end of January, until the following year.

The history of the feast of San Sebastiano in Ferla

The history of the Feast of San Sebastiano in Ferla has very ancient origins, just as the relationship of the local religious community with its Patron Saint is ancient and profound: the roots of this bond date back to the seventeenth century, a period in which San Sebastiano became Patron of Ferla, precisely in 1630.

Although the statue of the saint was produced even before this period, the symbolic places of the Patronage of San Sebastiano su Ferla date back to the eighteenth century, with the establishment of the Church of San Sebastiano, an important example of the style Iblean Baroque.

The summer celebrations in honor of the Patron Saint are similar to those of the month of January, but on the feast day in the summer, even the children pay homage to the Patron Saint with gifts and votive offerings. Then the young people of the town, dressed only in white trousers and with an effigy of the Saint attached to a red belt, participate in the 'scisa de nudi', a traditional race towards the churchyard, an event that bears witness to the ancient bond of the Ferlesi with their Patron.

When the feast of San Sebastiano takes place in Ferla

The death of San Sebastiano took place in Rome on January 20, 288 AD, making this date the liturgical feast with which the faithful celebrate their Patron, every year on January 20. However, even in summer in Ferla there is a date to pay homage to San Sebastiano and it is July 20th. One day before each feast, the celebrations begin with which the faithful pay homage to the simulacrum of the saint.

The race of the young people from Ferle on July 20th begins at noon.

Where the feast of San Sebastiano takes place in Ferla

The celebrations in honor of San Sebastiano a Ferla take place in Piazza San Sebastiano, at the church dedicated to the patron saint. The Basilica, the largest Catholic place of worship in the country and among the most beautiful of the entire province of Syracuse, is in style Barocco, with an elegant facade of mid eighteenth century and enchanting statues made by the sculptor Michelangelo di Giacomo.

What to do during the feast of San Sebastiano in Ferla

Those who participate in the Feast of San Sebastiano in Ferla in winter can take part in the procession of the faithful and also in the masses in his honor, celebrated in the church; in the summer, the Black Truffle Festival, an opportunity to discover some of the most typical flavors of the place.

In any case, those who are in Ferla for the Feast of San Sebastiano can take advantage of it to discover all the architectural beauties of the place, in fact, in addition to the beautiful Basilica dedicated to the Patron Saint, in the village there is also the Church of Sant'Antonio, also It is in Baroque style, with a facade characterized by very fine marble decorations.

After walking through the streets of the town, you can head towards the archaeological site of Pantalica, not far away, to visit the necropolis, the Palazzo del Principe and the Village of S. Micidario, all Unesco Heritage Sites dating back to the XNUMXth century BC

From Ferla you can also easily reach Buccheri, where there is the splendid Church of Santa Maria Maddalena and from where you can start to explore Monte Lauro.

How to get to the feast of San Sebastiano in Ferla

Ferla, in the Free Municipal Consortium of Syracuse, is just 40 km from the city.

Those wishing to reach the town can easily do so by car or by train: by car, from Syracuse take State Road 124 in the direction of Palazzolo and turn towards Ferla at the Montegrosso crossroads; those coming from other Sicilian cities can take the A18 Messina-Catania to the Melilli exit, about 20 km from the town.

Travelers who prefer the train can get off at Ragusa station, about 29 km from Ferla, and continue their journey by bus or shuttle to the center of Ferla.