The program of celebrations and festivities in honor of San Calogero which will be held in Agrigento from 5 to 14 July is being outlined. Some innovations are expected to be defined, for the rest the collateral initiatives and processions will take place in the name and respect of traditions. The festival actually opened yesterday with the first outing of the tammurinara through the streets of the city. “U Venniri a Villa” confirmed on Friday 5 July in Piazza Marconi, organized by the San Calogero Porters’ Association.
The next day, Saturday 6th, the band complex will enter the Sanctuary and tour the city. On Sunday 7 July, after the functions and the Holy Mass, the latter presided over by Archbishop Alessandro Damiano, with the participation of the civil and military authorities, the first procession is scheduled as per tradition.
At 12 the Statue will leave the Sanctuary to follow the traditional route: via Roma, piazzale Aldo Moro, via Gioeni, via Atenea, via Porcello, climb Santo Spirito, via Santo Spirito, via Foderà, climb Cognata, via San Girolamo, via Duomo, piazza Don Minzoni, ascent Seminario, via Oblati, via Sferri, via Garibaldi, sanctuary of Our Lady of Sorrows; at 7pm the Holy Mass followed by the preparation of the Saint for the evening procession through Via Atenea, arriving at Viale della Vittoria; at 11pm the fireworks and the traditional “tambo”.
During the week from 8 to 13 July, every day at the Sanctuary there will be moments of prayer and various events with the participation of priests, devotees and faithful. Some economic problems for the edition, it would be the tenth, of “The mega cake of San Calò” created by the pastry chef Giovanni Mangione in collaboration with the pastry chefs of Sicily. The parties are working to find a solution. On Saturday 13th the blessing of expectant mothers and children and in the evening a musical event organized by the Agrigento Municipality should be held in Piazza Marconi.
Sunday 14th the grand finale: at 9.30 from the Santuario dell’Addolorata and up to Viale della Vittoria the “Wheat Festival”, with offertory procession based on products of the land and craftsmanship and procession of devout bearers and faithful, followed by Sicilian carts , motorbikes, mules, dressed animals and tammurinara, and at 1pm the daytime procession of the simulacrum of the Black Saint along Via Atenea, Via Garibaldi and up to the Sanctuary of the Addolorata; at 9pm the evening procession arrives at Viale della Vittoria, where the fireworks are scheduled.
