The Executive Committee today announced the details of a 4-Day trip in Sicily between the 28th of June and 1st of July 2009 for those who want to accompany the St Joseph Band. The band has been invited by Mr Ray Bondin, a UNESCO representative to take part in the feast of St Paul at Palazzolo Acreide in Siracusa.

This traditional and popular feast is celebrated between the June 27 to 29 in a very magnificent way. Their patron is St. Paul. The St Joseph Band will play marches on the feast eve and will also host musical program on the feast day.

The price is €290 (Lm125) and includes the accommodation, catamaran tickets, transport (both in Sicily and Malta) and all taxes. The food is not included in the price although Palazzolo Acreide is renowned for its great food and wine. The group will be joining the St Joseph Band for the feast of St Paul in Palazzolo Acreide on the 28th and 29th of June. The final two days will be dedicated for shopping at several large shopping malls and open markets and also excursions in Catania, Noto and Siracusa.

Places are VERY limited and bookings are strictly accepted on a first come, first served basis. The amount must be paid in full by not later then Wednesday 27th May in order to confirm your place. A copy of your ID Card or Passport must also be provided.

For bookings or further details please contact:

Gino Cauchi +356 99476959
Kevin Cauchi +356 99459426
Elvin Tabone +356 99552462


Links:
About Palazzolo Acreide: http://www.palazzolo-acreide.it/eng/index.htm
About the Feast of St Paul: http://www.sanpaolopalazzolo.org

Palazzolo Acreide is a town where history, tradition and modern life coexist in a wonderful natural setting between gorges formed by two rivers. The town raises on hills overlooking a large part of the South-East of Sicily down to the cost. A visit to Palazzolo Acreide combines the beauty of the archeological Greek heritage with fine examples of Baroque architecture, the religious celebrations in honor of San Sebastiano e San Paolo with the colourful Carnival parade, the delicious tastes and smells of the Hiblean mountain food. It has 9204 inhabitants and is situated 670 metres above sea level.

The most exciting moment of the feast is called: “A Sciuta”, or the exit which takes place on the feast day at 1.00 pm. Here, the statue of St. Paul is removed from the main altar and arranged on the processional array, then carried out together with the relics of the saint. Outside the church the sound of bells ringing, the music of the band, the shouts of the bearers and of the faithful, the firecrackers, the throwing of thousands of pieces of paper with “Viva S. Paolo” written on and of long stripes of coloured paper, called “nzareddi”, welcome the procession. In a moment the imposing Baroque façade of the church, which has been decorated since the morning with hundreds of fire crackers and light guns to shoot the “nzareddi”, “vanishes” as it were “absorbed” by the continuous explosions, the guns firing, a huge cloud of smoke and by the thousands of “nzareddi” that fall down, wriggling like snakes, over the processional array, the bearers and the crowd of faithful.