Feast of Saint Agatha Catania Sicily 2025

Feast of Saint Agatha Catania Sicily 2025

Catania, Sicily’s second city on the slopes of Mount Etna, spectacularly celebrates its patron saint over three days each February. The event attracts both the curious and the devoted. The event will leave you with many memories long after leaving Catania, regardless of your religious beliefs.

• Visiting Catania? Stay close to Via Alessi, home to the city’s popular gay-friendly restaurants and bars. The Palazzo Marletta Luxury House Hotel is rated “Exceptional” by gusts and offers a unique taste of Sicilian hospitality.

The Processions

• Next Edition: Monday 3rd Feburary to Wednesday 5th Feburary, 2025.
• The Festival begins on February 3 with the long and solemn noon procession that goes from the Church of Sant’Agata alla Fornace up to the Cathedral, where the wax rite offers.
• A procession of huge candle holders called “Candelore” and the two Senate carriages close the procession: an eighteenth-century sedan, followed by a smaller car, carries the city administrators.
• On the same evening, ‘a sira’ u tri,  a spectacular fireworks show, is held in Piazza Duomo.
• In the early hours of February 4, after the Messa dell’ Aurora  (Dawn Holy Mass), the bust of Saint Agatha leaves the safe room inside the Cathedral where it is permanently kept.
• February 5 is the “peak” of the feast, the most eagerly awaited day. In the afternoon, an ornate cart carrying the bust of Saint Agatha leaves Piazza Duomo to tour inside the city. Events end with more fireworks.

Other Events

• Other festivities taking place during the event include theatre productions and street parties, while sweet deserts based on centuries-old recipes from nunneries are sold throughout the city.
• General mayhem prevails throughout Catania for the duration of the event and it is difficult not to become swept up in the party atmosphere.

Gay Catania

Catania is one of the most beautiful Sicilian cities and is known worldwide for its Baroque buildings, a theatrical style of grandeur popular in 17th century Europe.The city has a beautiful seaside location at the foot of Mount Etna. It also has a reputation for welcoming gay visitors from around the world.

Catania is a city of coloured stone buildings shining brightly under the Mediterranean sun. The city is full of the sounds of Vespas zipping along narrow streets while Terrazzos brim with gay boys visiting for the Summer season, taking an aperitivo as well as enjoying the sights.

Bars

• Buio  – Start your evening at Buio, a gay bar in the city centre with a mix of friendly locals and tourists.
• Nievski – Historic alternative bar in Catania. You can find it in the heart of the historic centre in Via Alessi. It is recognisable by the lots of people sitting at tables along a terrace of street staircases.
• Codice Rosso – Large cruising bar with Dark Room, Sling Room, Gloryholes, Cabins and Cinema.

Clubs

• Discus Beach – When summer starts (from June to early September), this is the place to go! Discus Beach is the right place to dance under the stars, drink some cocktails and meet some Sicilian guy.
• Le Capannine  – in Viale Kennedy, hosts pop-up gay parties on Friday nights where strobe lights from the two dance floors on the seafront mix up with the starry sky of La Playa.
• Industrie – Gay-Friendly Club, busy at weekends.

Saunas & Cruising

• Terme di Achille is a busy, clean sauna with Turkish baths, spa, and Finnish sauna.
• South Factory Club (SFC) – Complete with a huge whirlpool bath for the Italian orgy of your dreams and a busy sauna area.

Gay Beaches

Catania makes for an ideal base to explore the island of Sicily, just over two and a half hours from Palermo and 50 minutes from the famous gay beaches at Toramina and 30 minutes from the town of Acireale home to one of Italy’s most famous Carnivals.

• Not far from the city, at the Oasi del Simeto, on Simeto’s southern bank, there’s a clothing–optional golden sand beach still wild and left unknown to mass tourism.
• Near Taormina, you can enjoy the sun and meet new people on the Fondaco Parrino beach. The area was made famous by Oscar Wilde, a frequent visitor and Truman Capote.
• Marianelli, in the nature reserve of Vendicari, you will find a secluded beach, wild and unspoilt, sandwiched between almond, lemon trees and sand dunes.

Recommended Hotels

Here are the Hotels we recommend that keep you close to all the action

Palazzo Marletta,    Liberty Hotel,    Duomo Suites & Spa,    Hotel Centrum.