From February 3 to 5 Sant'Agata, patron of the city, a big party in Catania
A Silver coffin " vara" with a bust containing the relics of the saint, is tirelessly followed in procession by hundreds of "devouts" people, dressed in the traditional "bag" (narrow white robe by a cord, black headset, handkerchief and white gloves), clinging to two cords of more than 100 meters. The vara is followed by eleven "waxy" or "cannalori" tall wooden columns that represent the corporations of arts and crafts of the city. Throughout the unanimous cry of devotion "Citizens, citizens, are we all devotees all?"
February 2.
Arrival in Catania. Hotel accomodation. Hiking opportunities and visits out of town to be determined depending on the time of arrival. Dinner and overnight at the hotel
February 3: the luminaria procession and offer candles.
Breakfast at the hotel and participation in religious festivities that begin with a procession of wax that starts from the Church of St. Agatha to the furnace in Piazza Stesicoro to reach the Cathedral in Piazza Duomo. From Elephant Palace, seat of the municipality, leaving the two eighteenth-century "Coach of the Senate" on board of which the mayor and some of the Board members travel to the church of San Biagio to bring the keys of the city to the religious authorities. Free lunch. In the afternoon possibility of a walk along the Riviera of the Cyclops (Acicastello, Acitrezza, Acireale). In the evening, the festivities end in Piazza Duomo with a concert and a fireworks display
February 4: dawn Mass and procession outside the walls
Breakfast at the hotel and participation in the celebrations that continue with a religious service, the Mass of the dawn, in the Cathedral in Duomo Square. Before the operation, the talking head with the relics of St. Agatha is brought out of the "bedroom" to the cheers of the devotees. Immediately after putting the coffin it is carried in procession to the "outside turn" of the city. In the morning possibility of an excursion to Mount Etna. In the afternoon walk to the historical center of Catania and admire the Roman amphitheater in Stesicoro Square, University Square, Bellini Theater, and the possibility of stopping in a bar in the center to eat Local Specialties and arancini ... inevitable course sweets typical of this period : the toggles and cassatelle ("minnelle") of Sant'Agata.
February 5: Procession outside the walls
Breakfast at hotel. In the morning opportunity to visit the fish market folklore behind Duomo Square. The celebrations for the patron saint continue in the late morning with the solemn pontifical Cathedral. Ability to delight in a fresh seafood lunch. On 6,00 p.m. the "tour inside" of the city begins: the coffin goes along Etnea Street, arriving late at night at Cavour Square. Here the Santa stops for another expected fireworks after which the tour takes down the Via Etnea until "cchianata 'the Sangiulianu". After the stop in Crociferi Street to the chants of the Benedictine nuns, the cofin returns Cathedral in daylight for the last farewell to Santa.
February 6
Breakfast in the hotel check-out and departure.
Sant' Agata, Catania
The feast of Sant'Agata, "votive candles"
