Italy Events: Top Sicily Festivals
Festa di Sant’Agata, Morgana, Taormina Arte, Underwater Activities
SCUBA diving, Greek theatre, fireworks, film, dance, music and more - travel to Palermo, Catania, Syracuse, Taormina and Ustica for the best of the fests.
The island of Sicily in Italy is never going to run short of festivals, but which are the best ones to go to?
Italy Events: Top Sicily Festivals - Festa Di Sant’Agata, Catania
Held every year between February 3rd and 5th, this Sicilian city celebrates the life of its patron saint, Saint Agata. She was tortured and put to death for refusing the advances of the Roman emperor and refused to renounce her Christianity. She is also revered for the protection she gives from the nearby Mt Etna. Fireworks seem to be the main aspect of the celebrations, but just wait until you see the parade. Here, over a million people flock to the streets to follow an effigy of St Agata through town. Many of them are carrying gigantic candlesticks that weigh more than a grown man. It’s an incredible sight, and an amazing atmosphere.
Italy Events: Top Sicily Festivals - Ciclo di Spettacoli Classici, Syracuse
Syracuse likes to play heavily on its ancient Greek heritage, and quite rightly so. The Ciclo di Spettacoli Classici is a festival of Greek theatre, and it is put on by the only school outside Athens that still studies the art. It takes place every May and June, and attracts some of Italy’s best dramatic performers. The highlights are the plays put on in the old Greek theatre, which dates back to the 5th century BC and is remarkably well preserved.
Italy Events: Top Sicily Festivals - Taormina Arte Festival
Taormina has long been a haven for holidaymakers across the world, and those who arrive in July and August can indulge themselves in a creative paradise. The festival is not about any one thing in particular, but includes film, theatre, dance, painting and music. The range of names drawn to the festival is highly impressive, and often big names will appear in concert during the proceedings.
Italy Events: Top Sicily Festivals - Festa di Morgana, Palermo
This is one of the more unusual celebrations on the Sicilian calendar, but if you’re into puppetry, it’s a real treat. Every year, puppeteers from around the world descend on the Sicilian capital to show off their marionettes and put on shows of incredible skill, agility and grace. It’s held at the Museo Internazionale delle Marionette in the city centre, and dates change every year, so it’s worth checking out the museum’s website.
Italy Events: Top Sicily Festivals - International Festival of Underwater Activities, Ustica
Ustica is one the world’s best SCUBA diving hotspots, let alone Italy’s, and therefore it’s the perfect place to hold this celebration of all things underwater. The tiny volcanic island off the Tyrrhenian Coast is full of wonderful coastline and enticing underwater caves. During the festival, diving enthusiasts from around the world get together to explore them. It’s held in July every year.
Want more festivals? Here are the five best in…
Australia: Sydney
Italy: Sicily
USA: Denver
