Sant'Agata, la Festa!

Proudly presents

Sant’Agata, la Festa!
Photography Exhibition
Italian Cultural Institute, London
21-28 January 2025

Saint Agatha is the Patron Saint of Catania, whose feast is a spectacular religious celebration, held in Catania from February 3rd to 5th. It’s one of the world’s top three religious events, drawing in around half a million people over almost four days. It’s a major deal for the people of Catania, a mix of deep religious devotion and colourful local traditions.

The saint’s relic (not simply a statue, but containing parts of her skull) is placed on a 40-ton silver “fercolo” (a type of ornate carriage) and pulled on runners through the city streets by thousands of devotees, clad in traditional white sacks, using two parallel ropes.

On the evening of the 5th of February, these devotees demonstrate their devotion by carrying enormous lit votive candles (up to 100/150 kg). The streets are transformed into a river of flames and prayers. The entire city participates. Balconies are adorned with festive decoration. Houses overlooking the procession open their doors to friends and guests, who await the fercolo carrying the saint, enjoying the traditional sweets associated with the festival, primarily the so-called “minnuzze di Sant’Agata” (small cassatelle shaped like breasts).

The details of St Agatha’s story are distressing and particularly horrific. It dates back to her torture at the hands of the Romans in 251 AD. Given the choice of betraying her virtue or renouncing her Christian faith, St Agatha refused either and, on the orders of the proconsul Quinziano, her breasts were removed.

Saint Agatha also has an unexpected connection to the British Royal Family. Legend has it that the saint’s precious crown (the reliquary bust full of jewels offered as gifts of devotion) was donated, during a stay in Sicily, by King Richard the Lionheart upon his return from one of the Crusades. This was around the time of the return of the saint’s relics (on display and adored by the faithful during the festival) from Constantinople in 1126 AD. Queen Elizabeth II had a photo (taken by Mario Bucolo) of Saint Agatha in her collection, and her letter of thanks to Bucolo for informing her of this connection will also be on display at the exhibition.

The 40 Mario Bucolo’s photographs on display (and the accompanying video) will illustrate, in 10 sections, the various phases of the festival, with particular attention to the religious sentiment of the faithful over the three days and two nights. Bucolo is a deeply devoted follower of the saint, and the exhibition is intended as a further act of devotion to Saint Agatha and aims to convey the love that all devotees feel for her.

At the exhibition opening on 21 January, one of the votive candles (50kg) that devotees light on the streets on 5 February will also be on display, along with several metres of the blessed cord used to pull the Fercolo carrying the Saint. It is a tradition to touch the holy cord during the festival, as it is considered to bring good luck. Those attending the opening will be able to perform this gesture in London, too.

The exhibition, included in the official program of the festival, will be curated by Mariia Shub, with texts curated by Mariella and Carmelo Aurite, Sonia Distefano, and Mario Bucolo.

At the opening, guests will be able to enjoy the traditional sweets of the festival, the “minnuzze di San’Agata”, to which the New York Times recently dedicated a specific article, illustrating the international significance of the festival.

The President of the Committee for the Feast of Saint Agatha, Carmelo Grasso, considers the exhibition to be the first step in making the saint’s presence felt among the Catanese communities living abroad. For the occasion, the cloistered nuns, Benedictines of the SS. Sacramento of Catania, have dedicated a message of greeting and prayer to the Catanians in London.

The Apostolic Nuncio, H.E. Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendía, will attend the opening on 21st January.

The Director of the Italian Cultural Institute in London, Francesco Bongarrà, says this: “The Feast of Saint Agatha is a festival of faith and of the people that deserves to be known worldwide. Bucolo’s exhibition will certainly arouse the interest of the vast audience that follows our cultural activities in the English capital”.

The exhibition, has been produced by the Fabbricateatro association of Catania and with the patronage of the following: the Committee for the Feast of Saint Agatha, the ENIT (Italian Tourism Board), the Sicilian Regional Tourism Department, the Municipality of Catania (the Mayor of Catania, Enrico Trantino, is expected to attend the opening), the South-East Tourist District – Managing Body of the UNESCO site of “The Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto”, the Consulate General od Italy in London, the Consulate of San Marino, the Comites London the Circolo MIE of London, and the UK Confederation, by the daily newspaper “La Sicilia” (whose front page has featured photographs of the festival taken by Bucolo on several occasions). Special thanks goes to Rocco Forte Hotels, who have supported the exhibition.

Mario Bucolo is from Catania, has lived in London for 10 years, is a professional photographer, or rather an “Artisan of Imagery” as he prefers to be called, and has been following the Feast of Saint Agatha for 25 years. His photos of the festival, and not only, have received several international awards.

With the support of

With the patronage of

At the opening, indulge in the flavors of Sicily with a delectable array of sweet, savory, and spirited delights, thanks to:

Media Partners

Video Footage by

Produced by

Curated by Mariia Shub
Texts by Mariella Aurite, Carmelo Aurite, Sonia Distefano, Mario Bucolo
English adaptation by Peter Hall
Votive Candle provided by Cereria Cosentino, Catania
Blessed cord provided by Privitera cordami, Catania
A special thanks to the Benedictine Nuns of the Blessed Sacrament of Catania
Dedicated to my Mom, my Dad and Tino