Feast of Saint Sebastian in Acireale
On 20 January barefoot devotees race the co-patron saint's silver float through the old town, from the morning procession to the late-night return
By Salvatore Giuliano Published Updated
The story
According to tradition, Sebastian was a Roman soldier in the imperial guard, sentenced to death for his Christian faith under Diocletian: tied to a post and shot with arrows, he survived, only to be beaten to death later. Those arrows, a symbol of diseases that strike without warning, made him the saint people prayed to against the plague for centuries. In Acireale his cult began in the 15th century, when a confraternity dedicated a small oratory to him; the town came through the 1577 epidemic almost unscathed, and devotion grew so much that the confraternity built a larger, three-aisled church in the first half of the 17th century.
The 1693 earthquake brought down the choir, sacristy and oratory, and the rebuilding gave the church the look it has today: a white stone façade by Angelo Bellofiore, completed in the early 18th century, and frescoes by Pietro Paolo Vasta in the choir and apse. Made a collegiate church in 1924 and a basilica in 1990, it stands on Piazza Lionardo Vigo. In the right transept, behind the painting "Saint Sebastian in Glory" by Michele Vecchio, is the statue of the saint, shown naked at the moment of his martyrdom. Sebastian is the town's co-patron, alongside its patron saint, Venera.
On 20 January the statue comes out of the main door to bells and fireworks and, on its silver float, is hauled through the center by devotees at breakneck speed: the run down to Piazza Duomo, the San Biagio climb with the float lifted by hand, the evening dash along Corso Umberto I. In the afternoon, in Piazza Agostino Pennisi, a train stops and whistles in front of the saint, a custom linked to the soldiers who left for the front on 20 January 1916 and all came home alive. Devotees walk barefoot in votive clothing, a sweater, a sash and a knotted headscarf: the beige sweater recalls the martyr's nakedness, the red one his blood, the white scarf the plague survivors. Late at night the saint goes back into the basilica backwards, so as never to turn his back on the faithful.
Schedule
- In the morning the chapel is opened and the statue appears at the basilica's main door to bells and fireworks, followed by the float's first run down towards Piazza Duomo
- The San Biagio climb: devotees lift the float by hand up the steep street
- In the afternoon, in Piazza Agostino Pennisi, the "train salute": a train stops and blows its whistle in front of the saint
- In the evening, the run along Via Roma and Corso Umberto I, the U-turn at Largo Giovanni XXIII and the stop at the bishop's palace
- Fireworks and, late at night, the statue's return to the basilica, carried in backwards so that it faces the crowd
- Octave: in the evening the saint is shown to the town, makes a circuit of the square and returns to the basilica
The official schedule for 2027 has not been published yet, so the dates shown are provisional. We will update this page as soon as the calendar is announced.
What to eat
Acireale is one of the homes of Sicilian granita: the Nivarata, the international granita festival, was born here. The classic flavors are almond and coffee, often topped with whipped cream and eaten with a brioche or a freshly baked roll. The bars in the center serve it all year round, January included.
Local tips
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Parking
On the feast day the old town fills up and the float's route runs along the main streets: leave the car outside the center and walk. Before you go, check the town council's traffic orders.
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Payments
The feast is free to follow in the streets; keep some cash on you for bars and small purchases along the way.
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Crowds and timing
The float moves fast and crowds squeeze into narrow streets: keep your distance from it and follow the stewards' directions. Bad weather can push the feast back, as happened in 2026, so check the basilica's and the town council's announcements.
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What to wear
In January you'll be outdoors from morning until late at night: dress in layers and wear comfortable shoes. In the basilica, dress as you would for any place of worship.
Weather forecast
Data: Open-Meteo
Getting there
The Basilica of San Sebastiano is on Piazza Lionardo Vigo, in the old town. Catania Fontanarossa Airport is about 33 km away, roughly half an hour by car on the A18 motorway (exit Acireale); the train station is on the Messina-Syracuse line.
Things to do this weekend in Sicily →
Frequently asked questions
When is the Feast of Saint Sebastian in Acireale?
Every year on 20 January, the saint's feast day, with the octave on the evening of 27 January. In 2027, 20 January falls on a Wednesday; the official schedule with times has not been published yet.
What is the train salute?
On the afternoon of 20 January, in Piazza Agostino Pennisi, a train stops and blows its whistle in front of the saint. Tradition links it to the local soldiers who left for the front on 20 January 1916 and all came home alive.
Why are the devotees barefoot and dressed in red or beige?
It's the votive clothing of those who have made a vow to the saint: the beige sweater recalls Sebastian's nakedness at his martyrdom, the red one his blood, and the headscarf the survivors of the plague.
Is Saint Sebastian the patron saint of Acireale?
He is the co-patron: the town's patron saint is Saint Venera, celebrated on 26 July.
