Giorgios’ day - A sicilian street party

Film, direction and montage: Caspar Diederik and Marco Giunta.

 
Modica | Sicilia | Italia
 
An early sunday morning on the terrace of Casa Talia. Enjoying the view at ease. Suddenly the morning silence gets utterly disturbed. It’s St Giorgios’ day. The upper part of Modica (Alta) celebrates the name day of their Saint.
 
The down part of Modica (Bassa) doesn’t join in. That habit still remains from a centuries old enmity between St. George and St.Peter. A physical line is drawn In several alley to clearly mark the border of their territory. Neither both of the saints were allowed to cross it.
 
From the terrace on the opposite slope of the valley I have a great view. I film the spectacle from the distance, while my fellow filmer captures footage right in the crowd. 
 
Fire crackers explode and confetti swirls around the St.George cathedral.
 
A red crowd fills the square and starts to form a cordon. Men carry the statue of St George on their shoulders around the streets . Like a centipede the crowd crawls trough the alleys. Loud appraisals echo against the walls “San Giorgio!, San Giorgio!”. Until the run ends in the church, when the procession starts.
 
It's a feast of joy and celebration, seasoned with spiritual charm.
 
The closing ritual is a buffet of fireworks. The crowd spreads out and covers the 250 steps counting stairs that run the church down to the main street. After the last BANG, people go to the bars for a some more drinks.
 
The Church is an Baroque icon and can be reached through two hundred and fifty steps List of World heritage by UNESCO. Rosario Gagliardi from Syracuse is the architect.
 
See the amazing place where you can visit modica from casatalia.it
 
 
Travel video shared by Caspar Diederik
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