Feast of St. John the Baptist in Randazzo
The Feast of St. John the Baptist in Randazzo (CT) takes place in the medieval district of San Martino, where St. Giuvannuzzu is venerated in a medieval fair-like atmosphere.
The fair gathers tourists and islanders from all corners of Sicily and is held in the ‘Timpa’ area (Nebrodi Mountains), near the remains of the Church of St. John the Baptist. Between June 21 and 23, people will be able to take part in the procession of the simulacrum of the saint through the city streets full of events and musical and socio-cultural displays.
In 1943 Randazzo had been hit by bombing, losing much of its historical and artistic heritage. The district of S.Martino is the one that preserves the most numerous testimonies of the Middle Ages, including the Castle, the splendid bell tower-aunique example in Sicily of Franco-Provençal influenced art-the remains of the Royal Palace, a section of the walls. Remaining unchanged since the 11th century, “vanellazze,” narrow gaps separating rows of small houses facing each other on parallel streets, can be discovered among the neighborhood streets. These spaces served to air the buildings and to collect rainwater by conveying it to the main thoroughfares.
Randazzo is definitely a place to discover! So why not do it on your holiday weekend?