Feast of Sant'Ambrogio in Buccheri

In Buccheri, a mountain town populated by about 1.900 people on the Mount Lauro, in the Free Municipal Consortium of Syracuse, the Patron Saint is Sant'Ambrogio, which is celebrated by the religious community in the month of December.

The feast day is preceded in the village by the Triduum of Preparation at the Mother Church, so that the whole week is full of religious events, during which the inhabitants of Buccheri gather in prayer with devotion: the Holy Rosary and Mass they are celebrated every afternoon, but there are also other events in which citizens and visitors can take part, to pay homage to the Patron Saint.

The celebrations for the Blessed Virgin Mary and prayers before the relics of Saint Lucia, which specially arrive from Syracuse for the occasion: the faithful entrust the care of their families to the saints who protect the community.

The history of the feast of Sant'Ambrogio

The Feast of the Patron of Buccheri, Sant'Ambrogio, is a celebration particularly felt by the small Sicilian community, which dedicates itself with devotion to prayer on the saint's day and in the previous days.

In Buccheri the Mother Church of the town, the Parish of Sant'Ambrogio, has very ancient origins and already existed in the XNUMXth century, the period to which the first written sources relating to baptisms in the community date back. For centuries, in fact, the faithful have turned to Sant'Ambrogio asking for the protection of their families.

Sant'Ambrogio, often depicted as a warrior or Baptist, was Bishop of Milan, where he dedicated himself with determination to fighting Arianism, always showing instead great love and understanding towards the faithful. Lived in the fourth century AD he was born in Germany and died in Milan.

When does the feast of Sant'Ambrogio take place?

The Feast of Sant'Ambrogio takes place every year on December 7th. However, starting from 4 December, the Triduum for Preparation begins, during which the memory of Saint Lucia and the Virgin Mary is also celebrated, for a week of celebrations in the town that ends on 8 December.

Where the feast of Sant'Ambrogio takes place

The Mother Church of Buccheri, dedicated to Sant'Ambrogio, is also the main place where the celebrations for the patron saint take place. The Church is located in Piazza Matrice, in the Sant'Ambrogio district.

What to do during the feast of Sant'Ambrogio

The Feast of the Patron Saint of Buccheri, Sant'Ambrogio, is an occasion for spiritual recollection also for the tourists who are in the town in the month of December; in conjunction with the Feast of theImmaculate Conception of December 8, all the faithful can also celebrate the Patron Saint of Buccheri together, joining the local community.

Those who arrive in Buccheri can stay in the village, to discover all the beauties of the place, including some beautiful churches, ancient buildings and interesting museums.

In Buccheri, the Churches celebrating during the celebrations of the Patron are two, the Mother Church and the Church of Sant'Antonio Abate, where you can admire ancient sacred furnishings and works of art. Another place of Catholic worship not to be missed in Buccheri is the Church of Santa Maria Maddalena, which we recommend to all art-loving tourists to visit.

Just outside the center of Buccheri, you can visit the ancient ruins of the Church of St. Nicholas , Church of Sant'Andrea.

Those who love walking in the open air, surrounded by nature, can venture into the climb Mount Lauro, just 6 km from the town; here, in addition to all the natural beauties of the mountain, such as springs and woods, there is also the Neviera and Terre Vecchie, an ancient human settlement of which the remains are still visible.

Not far from the town, about 15 km, there is the Gabriele Judica Archaeological Museum, where archeology enthusiasts will be able to admire ancient finds, fascinating objects of daily use and fragments of decorations, found in the surroundings of Buccheri and collected in the Museum's collection.

On the occasion of the Feast of the Patron Saint of Buccheri, Sant'Ambrogio, all visitors who arrive in the village will also discover the delights of the local cuisine: u pani copipi and fried olives are some of the inevitable appetizers on Buccheri's tables and then, maccaruneddi with wild boar and ricotta sauce, grilled meat and of course traditional Sicilian desserts, from cannolo to cassata. A must try is Buccheri, the local oil that you can also buy.

Buccheri is also an excellent starting point for exploring the surroundings, with short trips to Vizzini, Scordia or Syracuse.
In Vizzini, don't miss the Museum of the Verghian Imaginary; in Scordia you can visit the Complex of Santa Maria la Vetere, while in Syracuse, in addition to the Cathedral, you can also admire the Temple of Apollo, among the other incredible beauties of the city.

How to get to Buccheri at the feast of Sant'Ambrogio

Buccheri, in the Free Municipal Consortium of Syracuse, is about 56 km from the city. To reach the village and participate in the Patronal Festival, visitors can take the car or the train.

Those who prefer to travel by car, via the A18 Messina-Catania and taking the Melilli exit, will arrive in the town after about 27 km; those traveling by train can get off at Ragusa station and continue by bus or shuttle to the centre.

© Davide Mauro, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons