Itinerary The R.E.I.S. of Scicli
Cultural itinerary
- Departure: Scicli, Piazza Italia, in front of the Mother Church
- Trekking time: 2 hours of walking (one way)
- Difficulty: easy
- Difference in altitude: 19 m (lowest point, Mother church (109 m a.s.l.), highest point, church of Santa Maria la Nova (128 m a.s.l.). (Source Google Hearts)
- Total length: 1.5 Km
THE COURSE
The city of Scicli is a place where the passage of time is still marked by great religious events to which centenary traditions are closely linked, making the charm emanating from these unmissable events unique.
The route of this itinerary winds through the historic center of the city, stopping in the most representative ecclesiastical buildings that house the simulacra protagonists of the Sciclitan celebrations of the R.E.I.S. (Register of Intangible Heritages of the Sicilian Region sponsored by UNESCO). The first stop is the Mother Church, formerly the Church of the Jesuit College, in Piazza Italia, from there cross the square and take Via San Giuseppe, up to the church of the same name; from San Giuseppe, through Via Peralta and Via Castellana you reach the baroque church of San Bartolomeo and then move to Via Francesco Mormina Penna, in the church of San Giovanni Evangelista. Finally, the last stop is the church of Santa Maria la Nova, located in the quarry of the same name.
The main scenario is the great Sciclitan spring, characterized by the wonderful and unique spring festivals, all of which have become part of the R.E.I.S. in 2014, to underline, if there was still a need, their immense cultural, social and religious value. The spring festivals are: the Cavalcade of San Giuseppe, the rites of Holy Week, Easter and the feast of the Madonna delle Milizie. Finally, the Canzoncine all’Immacolata are also part of the R.E.I.S: hymns in Sicilian (the Canzoncine) dedicated to the Virgin. The itinerary unfolds as a tale of these festivals, through the sacred places that house the simulacra objects of devotion and protagonists of the festivals dear to the Sciclitano people.
USEFUL INFORMATION AND CONTACTS
Equipment: comfortable shoes, water, hat, camera.
LOGISTICS INFO OF THE ITINERARY:
HOW TO GET:
The route develops in the urban area of Scicli, starting from Piazza Italia, in front of the Mother Church of Scicli. The city can be reached by car from Ragusa with the SP 37, from Modica through the SP 41 and 42, from the coast (Sampieri and Donnalucata) with the SP 39, 40, 84 and 95. By bus from Modica and Catania thanks to the AST bus lines (Sicilian Transport Company). Finally, the railway station of Scicli is one of the stops of the Sicilian south-east railways that connect Syracuse to Caltanissetta. Scicli can also be reached through the international airports of Comiso and Catania.