A scorching sun, symbol of heat and light, symbol of rebirth. Piazza Castronovo has transformed into the beating heart of a community seeking redemption. Because the 2026 edition of the Vara di Messina has been baptized in all respects as the procession of “rebirth”. An anniversary with a strong historical value: in fact, exactly one hundred years have passed since the great votive “machina” returned to cross the city streets in 1926, pulled and acclaimed by the faithful after the very long forced stop caused by the devastating earthquake of 1908.
Today, like a century ago, a city called to rise again. The wounds with which Messina presented itself at this event are not those of an earthquake, but those of recent and painful tragedies that have profoundly affected the community: the tragic collapse of Pistunina, the trail of young lives broken on the road in recent months and the dramatic stories of violence.
Among shooters, praying devotees, onlookers and tourists, the event confirmed itself as a majestic synthesis of religiosity, tradition, history and culture.
A choral event that the SES group has chosen to tell, once again, at 360 degrees across all its platforms – Rtp, Gazzetta del Sud.it, Tgs – and with an extensive special reportage on the pages of the paper newspaper on newsstands on Monday 17 August.
The afternoon came into full swing starting from 5pm with the recitation of the Ave Maria in an already packed Castronovo square. The preparatory moments for the start of the procession were led by Monsignor Antonello Angemi, who addressed a heartfelt thought to those who were unable to be present at the traditional Messina Ferragosto event, to the sick, to the prisoners.
In recent days, the Curia has repeatedly reiterated its message to citizens for this 2026 edition: “Experience the Vara with a sense of hope”, embracing in an ideal embrace those “broken” families who have suffered serious losses in the last year.
Before departure, a silence full of emotion accompanied the entrustment to the Virgin Mary of the six victims of the Pistunina collapse, but also to all those people from Messina who died prematurely on the road, with a particular memory for the young Giulia Scimone, for Enzo “Miao” and Riccardo Coglitore, up to Daniela Zinnanti and the forty-year-old recently found dead in the Provinciale district.
The 2026 edition introduced rigorous organizational innovations aimed at the safety and solemnity of the rite: an absolute ban was placed on shooters using cell phones during the march, together with a ban on carrying children in their arms between the ropes.
The fireworks before, during and after the processional route have also been cancelled. Around 6.15pm, the impressive hawsers – this year 124 meters long – were unrolled, entrusted to the strength of around 1,200 shooters.
After the traditional moment of prayer, the stretched ropes were raised towards the sky and blessed, preceding by a few minutes the first, highly anticipated “break” which set in motion, without fireworks and with the sole cry of “Viva Maria”, the centuries-old votive “machina” in an atmosphere certainly different from previous editions.
The start of the procession: the first short tear and the fight between the shooters
The starting whistles, the repeated “Viva Maria” and Vara who began her journey with a “too” short jerk, unfortunately due to the concentration of the shooters in particular areas of the hawsers, while other spaces remained empty. The regret of the historic rowers for a dispute that broke out between the shooters precisely because of the areas to be occupied with various moments of tension.
Second longest gap between memories and testimonies
After the near brawl during the “out of gas”, the second tear was longer than the opening one. The historic shooter Carmelo Sorrenti, who passed away last September 19th, was also remembered, leaving his place between the ropes to his son. Among the most beautiful testimonies is that of a young man who has been using Vara for over 10 years to “overcome” grief, another who decided to start because he was going through a difficult period. Both with teary eyes trying to explain how much strength devotion to the Assumption can give. Outside the ropes there are tourists and returning Messina residents, residents of the province, but also spectators from Catania, Palermo and Naples.
The Vara towards the Prefecture: the “balcony” closed as a sign of mourning
After a “slow” start, the Vara reached the church of San Giuliano on Via Garibaldi without too many problems, but with lots of encouragement from the historic shooters. Parts of the rough and dry asphalt created some problems also due to the high temperatures, while near the Prefecture they began to prepare the reception of the votive “machina”. This year the balcony of the Prefecture was not opened to the authorities as a sign of mourning, as explained by the prefect Cosima di Stani who honored the Assumption with the usual bouquet of flowers. Mayor Federico Basile was also present at the Government Palace.
Father Angemi’s prayer in the Prefecture and the homage of the orphans of Lviv
In the Prefecture, Father Antonello Angemi anticipated the traditional prayer which usually takes place at the intersection with Viale Boccetta, before the Assumption also received the floral tribute from the orphans of Lviv who today are part of the Ukrainian community in Messina. In the meantime there were some falls and some slight illnesses, fortunately nothing that could cause concern. But also the curious presence of a rider who ran in the middle of the procession to make a delivery, while the whole city stopped for the Assumption.
The votive “machina” at the Municipality of Messina
Several more vigorous jerks allowed the Vara to reach the Vittorio Emanuele theater and proceed towards Piazza Unione Europea, the seat of the Municipality, only partially recovering the delays that occurred at the beginning of the procession. All in all, the appeal addressed to shooters not to use cell phones was accepted, while the requirement not to let children stand between the ropes was a little less observed. The arrival at the point of the “turn” was expected shortly after 8.30 pm.
Towards the intersection of via I Settembre
The march towards the intersection between Via Garibaldi and Via I Settembre was very slow, perhaps with less energy, perhaps with a more subdued enthusiasm compared to previous editions, but Vara arrived around 8.50pm in the position which then allows the “turn”, the most complicated moment of the procession, to be carried out safely. It will take about twenty minutes to prepare ropes and shooters to carry out the delicate maneuver.
The “turn”
Around 9.30pm, behind the usual timetable, the Vara made the “turn” towards Via I Settembre which allows entry into Piazza Duomo and closes the procession. Yet another tear is necessary for the votive “machina” to reach the square of the Cathedral Basilica for the prayer of Monsignor Giovanni Accolla and the cutting of the ropes.
The arrival at Piazza Duomo
The Vara of Messina stopped just before 10.00 pm in front of the door of the Cathedral among the bells of the Cathedral Basilica which rang in celebration in a crowded square between the words of Father Angemi for the victims and missing people of Pistunina, then the song of Emy Spadaro who welcomed the memorial stone and the blessing of the Archbishop of Messina, Monsignor Giovanni Accolla.