Visit Vascelluzzo and the Church of the Sailors

Visit Vascelluzzo and the Church of the Sailors

Visit to the historic Church of the Sailors, where the wonderful Vascelluzzo is kept, a unique and priceless work of art in the world.

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Processione del Vascelluzzo, 38°12'10.5"N 15°33'17., Viale Italia, 4, 98123 Messina ME, Italy

In the sixteenth century the confraternity had Vascelluzzo, here preserved, a masterpiece in silver reproducing a galleon, remembers the history of Messina and is a symbol of the bond between the city and Mary and its protection.

Messina in 1302 was struck by a severe famine and Frederick II, to save the city, turned to the prayer of St. Albert of Trapani.

He celebrated a mass, at the end of which he said "God answered your prayer" and 3 ships loaded with wheat arrived in the harbor.

From 1577 the Vascelluzzo participates in the procession of Corpus Domini with the reliquary that houses Maria's hair and is decorated with ears of wheat.

On the day of the procession in the lower part of the varetta is spread a blanket of velvet that replaces the silver festoons that once existed.

The procession takes place in 3 stages: it is brought to the Cathedral, there it is placed under the triumphal arch of the Transept, here they fix under the silver crown the so-called "PIGNA", the glass case that holds Maria's hair, then yes continues with the procession.

In the past, wheat was donated by a family that had a wheat field in Spartà.

The procession towards the Cathedral is made with a characteristic trot to symbolize the going of a ship on the sea, while the return is made of run because according to the legend, in the past in this juncture the Vascelluzzo was violated.

Duration: 30 minutes