Grande Albergo Maugeri. Festival of Saint Sebastiano

On the 20th of January in Acireale, the most important religious festival takes place, the festival of Saint Sebastiano, Roman warrior who was made a martyr by Diocletian, to whom the power to protect the population from epidemics of the plague is attributed.

In fact, in the past it was believed that God shot arrows of the plague from the sky to punish men, and that as Sebastiano managed to survive the arrows, it was thought that he knew how to beat the terrible disease with his prayers.

During this festival Acireale takes on the colours and atmosphere of a Spanish city of the 13th century.

The festival of the “devout” is an authentic demonstration of local religiosity, full of faith.

It is moving, at the opening of the Basilica of S. Sebastiano at 7am, to see the coffin of the saint carried on the shoulders of the devout.

During the day there are spectacular moments, fireworks, and the solemn re-entry of the saint into the church, which concludes the festival at about midnight.