The church dedicated to the patron saint is the only one found on the island of Ustica. Its name is San Ferdinando Re, a reference to the Bourbon dynasty, which contributed financially to the church’s construction during their rule. The feast day of the saint is celebrated on August 24th.

The statue of the saint remains inside the church throughout the year and, during the week leading up to the celebration, is moved to the presbytery area so the faithful can see it while they pray. A key aspect of the procession is the composition of the parade: in addition to the faithful carrying banners in the saint’s colours, red and white, which are omnipresent in the visual symbolism of the feast, there is a group of women carrying silver ex-votos. These anatomically shaped votive offerings testify to the miraculous power of the saint. As material signs referencing something intangible, they affirm the authority and spiritual power of Saint Bartholomew and the devotees’ belonging to him.

The procession continues with a band following the men and women, then the entire community of believers. This period is also one of the island’s peak tourist seasons, meaning the procession includes not only locals but also visitors. The statue is carried through the village streets, accompanied by songs, prayers, and chants. Celebrations conclude around midnight at the harbour of Cala Santa Maria.

 

This element has been included in the Register of Intangible Heritage of local interest of the Municipality of Ustica, as part of Intervention 2 “Activation of the Observatory on the Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Territory through the application of the REIL methodology – Register of Intangible Heritage of Local Interest”, within the”Ustum Cultural Programme” project, funded by the NRRP (National Recovery and Resilience Plan), Mission: Digitalisation, innovation, competitiveness, culture and tourism, Component: Tourism and culture 4.0, Investment 2.1 “Attractiveness of villages.” CUP: E24H22000130006.