As of: 20 August 2026. This overview summarises the current situation in Sicily \u2013 travel and transport, nature and safety notices, important events over the coming two weeks, and other news relevant to travel.<\/p>\n\n
Flight operations at Catania Airport continue to run without the restrictions that applied during the most intense phase of the Etna eruption. Arrivals and departures are being handled as normal. Anyone flying in the coming days should still check the flight status on the day of travel: volcanic ash can lead to renewed restrictions at short notice, and airlines are the first to inform passengers in such cases.<\/p>\n\n
No strikes in public transport are currently announced for Sicily \u2013 neither for rail and bus, nor for ferries and flights. The next nationwide registered stoppages affect other regions of Italy only from early September. An ongoing overview is available on our page Strikes in Sicily<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n In Acireale, the organised removal of the volcanic ash that has settled on Etna’s eastern slope in recent weeks begins on 20 August. Alongside fixed collection points, kerbside pickup is planned for 23 and 26 August. For travellers, this mainly means: expect cleaning vehicles, closed parking spaces, and, in places, still-slippery road edges in the towns at the eastern foot of the volcano. Anyone driving a rental car there should keep their distance and watch out for two-wheeled riders, for whom ash residue is particularly dangerous.<\/p>\n\n According to the latest situation report from the responsible volcanological institute on the evening of 19 August, eruptive activity has significantly decreased. The lava flow from the vent at around 3,100 metres in the Valle del Bove came to a halt after around 500 metres; the flow from the vent at around 1,900 metres has recently moved only a few dozen metres and is now stationary and cooling at around 1,315 metres. A new, overlying lava flow has an active front at around 1,550 metres near Rocca Musarra. No explosive activity was observed at the Voragine crater, only occasional, diluted ash emissions in the summit area. Volcanic tremor reached its peak on the morning of 19 August and has been clearly declining since early afternoon; infrasound activity remains at a high level, and tilt measurements show a slight inflation in the summit area.<\/p>\n\n According to the latest published status from the responsible civil protection authority, the “Allarme” operational phase still applies to Etna, meaning the entire summit zone remains closed. This covers the summit craters, the upper Valle del Bove up to around 1,700 metres, and, as a guideline, the areas above 2,500 metres on the south, west and north flanks; with active lava flows or eruption vents, lower-lying sections can also be included. Only once the authority downgrades to the lower “Preallarme” phase will just the permanently hazardous crater zone be closed again. The closure also applies to guided tours. Excursions to lower-lying destinations such as the side craters, the eastern rim of the Valle del Bove, or the circular trails at the volcano’s base are not affected. Since the classification can change at short notice, you should check the status on the day of your excursion; an overview is available on our page Visiting Etna<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n An official notice on wildfire risk and heatwaves remains in effect for Sicily; the most recently published avviso from the regional civil protection authority carries the number 178 and the date 19 August 2026. Such notices are reissued daily and each apply from midnight for 24 hours \u2013 the status for 20 August had not yet appeared in the official records at the time this overview was compiled. In practice, this means for travellers: start hikes early in the morning, carry enough water, spend the midday hours in the shade or indoors, and consistently avoid open fires and parking on dry grass. Closed paths and nature reserves must not be entered even where the closure is not continuously monitored on site. Current figures for your destination are available on our Weather in Sicily<\/a> page.<\/p>\n\n The apostle Bartholomew is the patron saint of Lipari and is venerated as the protector of the entire Aeolian Islands. According to tradition, his relics reached Lipari in the 6th century; the Church observes his feast day on 24 August, and to this day this date is the highlight of the island’s year, bringing together residents of all seven islands. The festival is held several times a year, but only in August does the large joint procession take place. Carried during it is not only the saint’s silver statue but also the “Vascelluzzo”, an elaborately crafted ship-shaped reliquary made by Palermo goldsmiths, which traditionally precedes the statue.<\/p>\n\n The secular programme on the little square at Marina Corta begins on 21 August at 7:30pm with the local brass band, followed by a concert at 10pm. On 22 August, a live band plays from 10pm and a DJ set from 11:30pm, and on 23 August the singer-songwriter Fabrizio Moro performs at 10pm. 24 August brings the closing concert at 10pm, the big fireworks display over the sea at midnight, and music into the night afterwards. The solemn procession with the statue and reliquary moves through the town centre on the evening of 24 August.<\/p>\n\n For your journey, plan for the fact that noticeably more people are travelling on these days than usual: hydrofoils and ferries from Milazzo book up early, especially on 24 August, as do the connections between the islands. Anyone wanting to spend the evening on Lipari needs a confirmed return journey or an overnight stay \u2013 the last connections in some cases depart before the fireworks end. Marina Corta and the alleys of the old town are closed to vehicles during the procession and concerts; on Lipari it’s generally worth doing without your own car anyway. Admission to the harbourside events is free. More about the town is available on our page on Lipari<\/a>, and information on the crossings on our page Ferries to the Islands<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n The fifth edition of the Segesta Teatro Festival is running in the Segesta archaeological park near Calatafimi, bringing together ancient theatre, contemporary dance and concerts at two venues: the Greek theatre on Monte B\u00e0rbaro and the unfinished Doric temple. On 20 August at 7:30pm, the ancient theatre hosts the Italian premiere of “Traces of Rupture” by the Lebanese Zoukak Collective, created in collaboration with Gibellina, Italy’s 2026 capital of contemporary art. The work connects experiences from Lebanon with the history of the Belice Valley, which was destroyed by a severe earthquake in 1968. On 22 and 23 August, Euripides’ “Orestes” follows at 7:30pm each evening, in a staging featuring performers under 35.<\/p>\n\n Evening performances in the ancient theatre begin at 7:30pm, and concerts at the temple at 9:30pm. The organiser explicitly asks visitors to be at the park’s box office at least 30 minutes before the start \u2013 even with a ticket already purchased. A shuttle runs from the park entrance to the theatre, taking a few minutes uphill; visitors with reduced mobility use the main entrance opposite the box office. Sturdy footwear is advisable, as the terrain is uneven. Anyone wanting to combine the visit with the park is best off coming in the late afternoon \u2013 the site is very hot and largely shadeless during the day in August. Background on the site is available on our page on Segesta<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n Corrado Confalonieri, a nobleman from Piacenza who withdrew as a hermit into the rocks near Noto in the 14th century, is the town’s patron saint and is celebrated twice a year: in winter on 19 February and in summer on the last Sunday of August. In 2026, this falls on 30 August. The summer cycle unfolds over several weeks between the cathedral and the San Corrado fuori le Mura sanctuary; the celebration is carried by the long-standing brotherhoods of bearers, including those carrying the “cilii”, large votive candles.<\/p>\n\n Ahead of the festival day come the triduum on 25, 26 and 27 August with masses at 7pm, a day of penance and fasting on 28 August, and the vigil on 29 August with masses at 5am, 7:30am and 7pm and the solemn vespers at 8pm. In the nights before, groups of pilgrims arrive on foot from Pachino and Rosolini. On 30 August, the floral tribute at the statue on Piazzale Adorno follows at 9am with a procession from the cathedral, the solemn pontifical mass at 10:30am, and at 7pm the procession with the saint’s silver Arca through the old town, stopping at, among other places, the prison and the church of Santissimo Crocifisso. From 31 August to 5 September, the octave follows with evening masses at 7pm.<\/p>\n\n Travellers should be aware that Noto is noticeably busier than usual on festival Sunday, and the baroque old town centre around Corso Vittorio Emanuele is temporarily closed to traffic. Realistically, parking is then only available outside the centre, with a ten- to twenty-minute walk; anyone arriving from Syracuse or Avola is often better off travelling by train. The evening procession lasts several hours \u2013 a standing spot along the route is freely accessible, but requires patience and arriving early. Anyone wanting to photograph the town in peace should plan their visit for a different day. Background on the town is available on our page on Noto<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n Smaller events on the side: in Milo, Moli\u00e8re’s “The Miser” is performed with Enrico Guarneri at the Arena Teatro Lucio Dalla on 21 August, the summer series “Etna in Scena” is running in Zafferana Etnea, and several concerts are announced in Aci Sant’Antonio from 24 to 26 August. In Lercara Friddi in the province of Palermo, the celebrations for Maria Santissima di Costantinopoli continue until 23 August. For all of these events: small municipalities’ programmes can change at short notice, so it’s worth checking the organisers’ announcements before setting off.<\/p>\n\n In Catania, the scientific committee has submitted the draft dossier aimed at having the Feast of Saint Agatha added to the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage. The text can be publicly commented on and supplemented until September, and goes to Rome in October; a decision from the responsible ministry is expected in 2027. The festival, which draws hundreds of thousands to the city centre every year in early February, is also marked in 2026 by the 900th anniversary of the relics’ return to Catania.<\/p>\n\n Following the theft of works by Antonello da Messina from the regional museum in Messina, investigations are ongoing; prosecutors are examining several leads, including gaps in security. Anyone planning to visit the museum should check the current opening hours and any restrictions on individual rooms in advance.<\/p>\n\n Note: All information as of 20 August 2026. Before travelling, please check current timetables, opening hours, event dates, and weather and safety warnings again.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A compact overview of the current situation in Sicily on 20 August 2026: the Etna eruption has weakened significantly while the summit zone remains closed, flight operations in Catania are running without restrictions and no strikes are announced, an official notice on wildfire danger and heat, plus the San Bartolomeo patronal festival on Lipari, the Segesta Teatro Festival, and preparations for San Corrado in Noto.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4026,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[38,35,37,40,36,39],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4062","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-events-culture","category-general-tourism","category-nature-safety","category-sicily-radar","category-travel-ferries","category-weather-storms"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.treffpunkt-sizilien.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4062","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.treffpunkt-sizilien.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.treffpunkt-sizilien.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.treffpunkt-sizilien.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.treffpunkt-sizilien.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4062"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.treffpunkt-sizilien.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4062\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4063,"href":"https:\/\/www.treffpunkt-sizilien.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4062\/revisions\/4063"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.treffpunkt-sizilien.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4026"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.treffpunkt-sizilien.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4062"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.treffpunkt-sizilien.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4062"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.treffpunkt-sizilien.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4062"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Nature & Safety<\/h2>\n\n
Etna<\/h3>\n\n
Heat and Wildfire Danger<\/h3>\n\n
Events & Culture<\/h2>\n\n
San Bartolomeo on Lipari, 21 to 24 August<\/h3>\n\n
Segesta Teatro Festival, until 30 August<\/h3>\n\n
San Corrado in Noto, Highlight on 30 August<\/h3>\n\n
General & Tourism<\/h2>\n\n