The Giants and the Vara

Ferragosto is the biggest holiday in Messina, when the city gathers for the Procession of the Vara and the Cavalcade of the Giants. With Adriana, an art historian and photographer, you follow this deeply felt event, observing the massive votive carriage — fourteen meters tall and weighing eight tons — pulled by hand by 1,200 barefoot devotees, in honor of the Virgin of the Assumption. AVAILABLE ONLY ON AUGUST 15, 2026. The procession moves through the city with force and speed, crossing the crowd in a surge of faith, atonement, and collective energy. Along the way, Adriana helps you capture the event through an insider's eye, explaining the details of the ritual, the meaning, and the stories connected to Messina — including the legendary giants Mata and Grifone, the mythical founders of the city. You also visit some of the city's most unusual monuments. Your evening ends with a drink as you watch the 11 PM fireworks over the Strait, marking the close of the celebration.

Adriana is an art historian born and raised in Messina, and she knows the city's history in depth. Since childhood, she has immersed herself in its folklore, driven by the belief that the true identity of a community is closely tied to its oldest traditions, kept alive over time. As a photographer, she has a trained eye for the details that do not immediately stand out. Moving naturally through the different parts of the celebration, she helps you notice them and brings you straight into the heart of the event, as part of the community and not as a spectator. With her, you become a Messinese taking part in a collective ritual repeated every Ferragosto for nearly five centuries. The evening ends at a high vantage point, outside the procession you have just experienced. As you cool down with a drink and watch the fireworks, the change of pace lets the tension of the celebration settle and gives you space to reflect on what you have witnessed in full.

Adriana Cannaò is an art historian and cultural heritage specialist with a degree in Cultural Heritage Operator (specialization in Research and Cataloguing). Born right on the Strait of Messina, she has spent years deepening her knowledge of her city's art and traditions — from the Renaissance masterpieces of Antonello da Messina to the folklore of the Strait itself, including the ancient myths of Scylla and Charybdis. She is also a photographer with a trained eye for the details that often go unnoticed, and a passionate guide to Messina's street food and traditional pastries. She speaks Italian and English.

Lightweight, comfortable clothing. Closed-toe walking shoes. Your camera or smartphone. A bottle of water. A bag with a zipper closure for peace of mind in crowded areas.