As of: 23 August 2026. This overview summarises the current situation in Sicily – transport, nature and safety, cultural events, and other news relevant to travellers.
Travel & Transport
On Vulcano, the new hydrofoil jetty has been in regular operation since 20 August. The responsible port authority ordered it into service despite the municipality of Lipari having asked for a postponement: the new structure still lacks the covered waiting area that the previous jetty had. In concrete terms, this means there is neither shade nor weather protection while waiting for the boat – something worth planning for on one of the most popular day-trip islands from Milazzo, given daytime highs around and above 33 degrees. A hat and water belong in your hand luggage, and anyone planning the return trip should avoid the hottest afternoon hour. The jetty itself was over ten years in planning and construction; completion of the missing amenities is still pending.
Transport remains calm: no nationwide strike in passenger transport is registered for Sunday. August is traditionally strike-free in Sicily, because a statutory strike-free period applies for the peak summer months, running in 2026 until 3 September for rail and until 5 September for air and local transport. The first announced date with effects on Sicily as well is a nationwide rail strike from Monday evening, 7 September, to Tuesday evening, 8 September. Background, guaranteed service periods and the current status are summarised on our page Strikes in Italy and Sicily.
The closure on the rail lines around Agrigento remains unchanged. Between Agrigento Centrale and Roccapalumba-Alia, and between Agrigento Centrale and Caltanissetta Centrale, no trains run due to expansion and renovation works; regional trains are replaced by buses on these sections. The buses generally stop at the station forecourts, but at three stops elsewhere: in Agrigento Bassa on Via Piersanti Mattarella, in Acquaviva-Casteltermini on the provincial road near the station, and in Grotte at Piazza Magnani. The bus travel times depend on road traffic, so connections in Palermo or Catania should be planned with generous buffer time.
No new restrictions on flight operations have recently been reported at Catania Airport. For the ferry connections to the Aeolian Islands, noticeably higher demand is expected this weekend and on Monday, as many visitors travel from the neighbouring islands and the mainland for the patronal festival on Lipari. Anyone planning only a day trip should check the last connection back to Milazzo beforehand. An overview of the ports and crossing times is available on our page Ferries to the Islands.
Nature & Safety
Etna
Eruptive activity at the Voragine crater has ended. The last report from the volcano observatory dates from Friday evening, 21 August; no new update has been published since. Volcanic tremor is at a low level, with its sources located east of the Voragine at a height of around 2,500 to 2,800 metres. Only occasional weak, diluted ash emissions are still observed in the summit area; the lava field in the Valle del Bove is cooling. This brings, for now, an end to a phase that has repeatedly kept the mountain active since June – with Strombolian activity, lava fountains, ash clouds and several lava flows on the upper eastern flank. No forecast for further developments can be drawn from this; monitoring continues unchanged.
Despite the calming trend, the summit zone remains closed according to the latest published status from the civil protection authority; no lifting of the closure has been announced so far. The zone covers the summit craters, the upper Valle del Bove up to around 1,700 metres, and, to the south, west and north, roughly all areas above 2,500 metres. The lower-lying areas of Etna Sud and Etna Nord, the hiking trails below the closure line, and the classic viewpoints at the volcano’s base are not affected. Anyone planning a tour should check the current status on the day of the visit with the relevant authorities and local mountain guides – closures can be lifted or reimposed at short notice.
Heat and Wildfire Danger
The currently valid official notice on wildfire danger and heatwaves is Avviso number 181 of 22 August 2026; an edition dated 23 August had not yet been published at the time of research. This continues the uninterrupted series of daily reports from the civil protection authority, which has been running without a break for weeks. The weather remains stable and sunny, with no severe weather warning in place for Sunday. Temperatures are rising again: inland areas are expected to see peaks of around 36 to 37 degrees, with an elevated heat level for Palermo and a lower one for Catania and Messina. For planning purposes, this means: head to hikes and shadeless archaeological sites early in the morning, carry enough water, and observe fire bans as well as short-notice closures of paths and nature reserves. Current figures for individual locations are available on our Weather in Sicily page.
Earthquakes
In the southern Tyrrhenian Sea, northwest of the Aeolian Islands, a series of weak earthquakes was recorded over the past two days. The strongest reached a magnitude of 3.1 at a depth of around 22 kilometres on Friday, 21 August, at 6:24pm, with further events between 2.0 and 2.4 following until Saturday morning. All epicentres are at sea; no damage or notable effects have been reported. Events of this magnitude are not unusual in the seismically active region around the Aeolian Islands and are generally either not felt on land at all or only faintly.
Events & Culture
San Bartolomeo on Lipari – Return of the Vascelluzzo on 23 August, Festival Day on 24 August
Until Monday, Lipari celebrates its patron saint, San Bartolomeo, the most important festival of the year in the Aeolian Islands. According to tradition, the apostle’s body reached the island in the year 264 in the Bay of Portinente. This year adds an anniversary: in January 1926, Angelo Paino, the Archbishop of Messina originally from Santa Marina Salina, received a fragment of the saint’s skin from the Patriarch and the cathedral chapter in Venice. He brought the relic to Lipari aboard the Messina Vascelluzzo, a silver processional barge from the late 16th century, where it arrived in the Bay of Portinente on 22 August 1926. On this occasion he called on the people of Lipari to create their own Vascelluzzo, laying down his bishop’s ring as the first offering; funded by donations from island residents and emigrants, the Lipari Vascelluzzo was blessed in 1930.
For the centenary, the original Messina barge returns this Sunday. At 6pm it is received at Piazza Marina Corta and then accompanied in procession to the cathedral, where the festival’s first vespers are celebrated. The main festival day is Monday, 24 August, with services in the cathedral, the solemn pontifical mass in the evening, and the subsequent procession through the alleys of the old town, during which the statue and reliquary are carried; at the close, boats gather below the cathedral for the blessing of seafarers. The exact times of Monday’s programme are announced locally by the organisers.
In practice, two points matter. First, a municipal safety order is in effect from 21 to 24 August: in the historic centre, selling drinks in glass bottles and cans to take away is prohibited, existing restrictions on alcohol sales remain in place, and restaurants and bars must clear tables, chairs and other setups from public space – on 23 August from 10pm to 2am on Via Vittorio Emanuele, Via Roma, Via Maurolico and Via Garibaldi, and on 24 August already from 6pm to 2am. This is due to the large crowds and the procession route through the especially narrow streets Via Garibaldi and Via Maurolico. Second, the real bottleneck is the return crossing: ferry crossings are in high demand on these days, and accommodation on Lipari is scarce. Attending the celebrations themselves is free.
San Giovanni Battista in Ragusa – Highlight on 29 August
Ragusa has been holding the “Festa Ranni” since 19 August, the great festival for John the Baptist, the main patron saint of the city and the diocese. It was traditionally opened with the opening of the niche and the transfer of the statue; since then a novena has accompanied the preparations, with the traditional chant and a mass every evening. A special feature this year is the pilgrimage of the arm reliquary to nursing and care homes, hospitals and parishes. On 27 and 28 August, two processions move through the city: the Arca Santa stops at the parish of the Blessed Clemente Marchisio, the Baptist’s statue at the church of Sacro Cuore di Gesù, before both return to the cathedral.
The highlight is Saturday, 29 August. After the day’s services, the solemn procession with the Arca Santa and the statue sets off in the early evening and moves through the alleys of the upper town; many worshippers accompany it barefoot, wearing a red garment, or carrying votive candles. The Arca Santa is a silver work from 1731 by Messina silversmiths, with embossed leaf motifs and scenes from the Baptist’s birth and martyrdom. The festival closes with the bishop’s traditional address to the city. Around the festival, the Fiera di San Giovanni runs from 25 to 30 August, along with a stage programme of theatre and concerts from 25 to 29 August as part of the city’s summer programme.
For trip planning, it’s important to know that the festival takes place almost entirely in Ragusa Superiore, the upper new town around the cathedral of San Giovanni Battista – not in the baroque Ragusa Ibla, which most visitors head for. Anyone wanting to see both should plan two separate half-days; the districts are separated by a steep change in elevation and long staircases, though city buses also run between them. On procession evenings, expect road closures along the route and a shortage of parking in the centre; it’s worth arriving early and parking outside the core. The events are free, the evenings run late into the night, and the fair stalls change the look of the town centre for several days – anyone wanting to photograph Ragusa in peace should choose a different date.
San Corrado in Noto – Festival Day on 30 August
Noto is holding its summer celebration for the town’s patron saint, San Corrado, which traditionally reaches its peak on the last Sunday of August – this year on 30 August. Corrado Confalonieri, a nobleman from Piacenza, withdrew to a cave southwest of the town in the 14th century; after his death in 1351, the San Corrado fuori le Mura sanctuary was built there. The connection between Noto and Piacenza is maintained to this day: on the eve, the parish priest of San Corrado in Piacenza celebrates the evening mass, and a delegation from Piacenza attends the pontifical mass on the festival day.
The schedule for the coming days is fixed. On 23 and 24 August, further services take place, from 25 to 27 August the triduum follows each evening at 7pm, and on 28 August a day of penance and fasting with a communal penitential service. On the nights before 29 and 30 August, groups of pilgrims from Pachino and Rosolini walk to Noto; for the pilgrims from Pachino, a mass is already held at 5am on 29 August. The solemn vespers are held the evening before at 8pm. The festival day itself begins at 9am with the floral tribute at Piazzale Adorno and a procession from the cathedral, followed by the pontifical mass at 10:30am, and at 7pm the procession with the silver Arca moves through the old town, stopping at the prison and the Santissimo Crocifisso church. The Arca is carried by the traditional Portatori, accompanied by the cilii, large decorated candle structures. From 31 August to 5 September, the octave days follow with evening masses at 7pm, and on 6 September the octave closes with the floral tribute at the sanctuary and the return procession.
For trip planning, this means: 30 August is not a day for a relaxed baroque sightseeing visit to Noto. The old town is already largely a traffic-calmed zone, and on the festival day road closures along the procession route and heavy crowds from the surrounding area add to this. Anyone wanting to see the procession should arrive early, park outside the centre, and plan the return trip for late evening; a rental car is more of a burden than a help on this day. Attendance is free. Anyone wanting to see the architecture of the Val di Noto above all is better off visiting on one of the quiet weekdays before or after the festival.
Segesta Teatro Festival – Final Performances until 30 August
In the archaeological park of Segesta, the fifth edition of the Segesta Teatro Festival is entering its final phase. Performances take place at two venues: the ancient theatre on the slope of Monte Bàrbaro and at the Doric temple. This Sunday, the programme features a production of Euripides’ “Orestes” at 7:30pm in the ancient theatre, staged by an emerging ensemble. This is followed by a concert evening at the temple on 26 August at 9:30pm, a dance evening in the ancient theatre on 27 August at 8pm, and, on 29 and 30 August at 7:30pm each, the premiere of an adaptation of “Agamemnon” after Aeschylus. An additional date, a benefit concert at the temple, is scheduled for 12 September.
It’s worth knowing in practice that the venues are not right at the car park: a shuttle, or alternatively an uphill footpath, leads from the entrance to the theatre and the temple, so sturdy footwear is advisable. After sunset it cools noticeably on the hill, and a light jacket is worthwhile even in August. Seats are limited and often sold out in advance for the better-known evenings; ticket prices and availability should be checked with the organisers before travelling. A trip to Segesta without a ticket is not worthwhile for the festival itself – the park is, however, regularly open to visitors during the day.
Alongside this, several smaller local festivals are taking place this week, mainly in the province of Messina: the festival for San Giacomo, San Rocco and the Most Holy Crucifix in Galati Mamertino from 23 to 26 August, the festival of the “Cristo Lungo” in Castroreale from 23 to 25 August, and the festival of the Madonna della Provvidenza in Montalbano Elicona on 24 August. In Cerami, in the province of Enna, San Sebastiano is celebrated on 27 and 28 August. Such festivals are rarely promoted beyond the local area, usually last one to three evenings, and are often only finalised a few days in advance – the most reliable way to find times is through the respective municipality or local notices.
General & Tourism
The debate over the structure of Sicily’s airports has gained new momentum. Italy’s civil protection minister stated over the weekend that Catania-Fontanarossa cannot be expanded into an intercontinental hub due to its confined location: the airport lies only a few hundred metres from residential areas, and there is no space for expansion. Instead, he raised the idea of a coordinated interplay between several sites – Comiso, Palermo, Trapani and Reggio Calabria – and called for a fixed contingency plan for ash events, so that traffic can be predictably distributed to the other airports during future closures. Nothing changes for travellers in the short term. In the medium term, however, the issue is relevant, because travel from German-speaking countries depends heavily on a few connections, and the closures in Catania in mid-August showed how quickly the whole system can be thrown off balance. Anyone wanting to prepare for such a case can find the possible alternative routes on our page Getting Around Sicily.
Note: All information as of 23 August 2026. Before travelling, please check current timetables, opening hours, event dates, and weather and safety warnings again.
