St John the Baptist Festival
The Feast of Saint John the Baptist, the revered patron saint of Ragusa and its diocese, is an event rich in tradition and devotion, celebrated every year on 29 August, in remembrance of the Saint's martyrdom. However, the festivities begin on 19 August, when the niche housing the Saint's effigy is opened, marking the start of ten days of cultural, artistic, and sporting events that enliven the entire city.
On 26th August, the sacred relics of Saint John the Baptist are carried in procession through the ancient streets of Ragusa, a moment imbued with spirituality in which the Saint embraces his faithful once more, welcomed by chants, liturgies, and prayer vigils. His effigy is housed in a local parish until 28th August, when it returns to the Cathedral, ready for the main day of celebration.
On 29 August, Ragusa gathers around its Patron Saint with a candlelit procession, a rite that recalls the ancient 17th-century luminaria in Ibla. The procession is a moment of profound devotion, marked by the silence of prayer and the participation of the faithful, either barefoot or dressed in red, as a sign of a vow or a grace received. Thousands of devotees accompany the saint's shrine, illuminating the streets with lit candles, while the effigy of St. John passes through the city's streets to the cry of “Patronu Viva”, accompanied by the band.
This procession, besides representing an act of faith, is a spectacular moment that unites the community, culminating in a magnificent fireworks display that closes the celebrations with a note of beauty and tradition.
On 24 June, to mark the nativity of Saint John the Baptist, Ragusa will liturgically anticipate the August celebrations. Festivities begin as early as 15 June with a solemn occasion: after Vespers and Holy Mass, the bells ring out joyously, the bearers gather, and the niche is opened to display the 1513 stone effigy, known as “u niviru”, on the main altar. This is followed by moments of prayer, marking the start of days of intense devotion involving the entire community.
The Feast of St. John the Baptist is not just a religious event, but an experience that celebrates the soul of Ragusa, renewing every year the deep bond between the city and its Patron Saint.