The Feast of Saint George in Ragusa is celebrated in an atmosphere of faith and folklore, transforming Ragusa Ibla into a grand Baroque stage on the last Sunday of May. The week begins mid-month with gatherings in the Piazza del Duomo: guided tours of the sculpted portal, illuminations enlivening the ancient streets, and evening concerts, as the city rediscovers the beauty of its stonework and traditions.
In the days leading up to the celebration, the two sacred images—that of Saint George and the Holy Ark—make a moving pilgrimage between churches: on Friday, the statue of the Saint is welcomed into the Church of Purgatory and then taken to San Tommaso, where it remains on display for the devotion of the faithful until the evening; on Saturday morning, it triumphantly returns to the Cathedral, along with the Ark, to prepare for its solemn exit.
On Sunday, the bells ring out in celebration and cannon shots announce the beginning of the celebrations. After Mass, the bands line up in the streets as the statue of Saint George, dressed as a Roman soldier with a spear piercing the dragon, is paraded along with the Ark. The most magical moment comes with the "Ballad of the Saint": the bearers make the statue dance to the music of the band, lifting it and swaying it to the rhythm, amid shouts of joy and applause, until the exclamation "Truonu!" celebrates the reconciliation between the city and its patron saint.
In the afternoon, the celebration continues with marches, drums, and illuminations in the alleys, until the procession returns to the Cathedral. The conclusion is an explosion of light and sound: at dusk, the statue and the Ark return to the Cathedral amidst shadows and lights, preceded by the drums and accompanied by a pyromusical and video mapping display that illuminates the baroque façade, sealing an ancestral rite between the sacred, community, and spectacle.
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