{"id":1449,"date":"2026-07-24T13:41:43","date_gmt":"2026-07-24T11:41:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/visitme.comune.messina.it\/la-vara\/"},"modified":"2026-07-29T10:30:02","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T08:30:02","slug":"la-vara","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/visitme.comune.messina.it\/en\/la-vara\/","title":{"rendered":"La Vara"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"et_pb_section_0 et_pb_section et_section_regular et_block_section et-pb-has-background-video et_pb_preload\"><span class=\"et-pb-background-video\"><video autoplay loop playsinline muted><source type=\"video\/mp4\" data-src=\"https:\/\/visitme.comune.messina.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Vara-sfondo-4.mp4\" \/><\/video><\/span>\n<div class=\"et_pb_row_0 et_pb_row et_block_row\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_0 et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et-last-child et_block_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_0 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">La Vara<\/h1>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_1 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">La Vara of Messina<\/h1>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span>Five Centuries of History<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_section_1 et_pb_section et_section_regular et_flex_section\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_row_1 et_pb_row et_flex_row\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_1 et_pb_column et_flex_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et_flex_column_8_24 et_flex_column_8_24_tablet et_flex_column_24_24_phone\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_blurb_0 et_pb_blurb et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_blurb_position_top et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_blurb_content et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_main_blurb_image\"><span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap et_pb_only_image_mode_wrap\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/visitme.comune.messina.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/vara-partenza-piazza-castronovo.jpg\" alt=\"vara-partenza-piazza-castronovo\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/visitme.comune.messina.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/vara-partenza-piazza-castronovo.jpg 600w, https:\/\/visitme.comune.messina.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/vara-partenza-piazza-castronovo-480x320.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 600px, 100vw\" class=\"wp-image-1432\" title=\"vara-partenza-piazza-castronovo\" \/><\/span><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_blurb_container\"><h4 class=\"et_pb_module_header\">When the Assumption Touches the Sky<\/h4><div class=\"et_pb_blurb_description\"><p><span>Every 15th of August, Messina comes to a standstill. Over a thousand barefoot devotees pull a majestic, 13.5-meter-tall votive machine weighing nearly 8 tons through the city center: this is the Vara, the beating heart of the Feast of the Assumption and one of Europe\u2019s most breathtaking folk rituals. It is more than a procession\u2014it is the very soul of the city taking to the streets, every year, for nearly five centuries.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_2 et_pb_column et_flex_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et_flex_column_8_24 et_flex_column_8_24_tablet et_flex_column_24_24_phone\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_blurb_1 et_pb_blurb et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_blurb_position_top et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_blurb_content et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_main_blurb_image\"><span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap et_pb_only_image_mode_wrap\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/visitme.comune.messina.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/vara-palazzo-governo.jpg\" alt=\"vara al palazzo del governo\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/visitme.comune.messina.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/vara-palazzo-governo.jpg 600w, https:\/\/visitme.comune.messina.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/vara-palazzo-governo-480x320.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 600px, 100vw\" class=\"wp-image-1431\" title=\"vara-palazzo-governo\" \/><\/span><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_blurb_container\"><h4 class=\"et_pb_module_header\">How Messina Experiences the Day<\/h4><div class=\"et_pb_blurb_description\"><p><span>On the 15th of August, Messina comes alive with pilgrims, tourists, and locals returning home just for the occasion. Along Via Garibaldi, the crowd gathers to follow the passage of the giant votive structure with songs and applause, in an atmosphere where deep-rooted devotion seamlessly blends with vibrant celebration. It is also the perfect time to discover the city\u2019s other iconic landmarks\u2014from the Cathedral with its world-famous astronomical clock to a scenic stroll along the Strait of Messina.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_3 et_pb_column et-last-child et_flex_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et_flex_column_8_24 et_flex_column_8_24_tablet et_flex_column_24_24_phone\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_blurb_2 et_pb_blurb et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_blurb_position_top et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_blurb_content et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_main_blurb_image\"><span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap et_pb_only_image_mode_wrap\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/visitme.comune.messina.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/vara-corde.jpg\" alt=\"Vara tra le corde\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/visitme.comune.messina.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/vara-corde.jpg 600w, https:\/\/visitme.comune.messina.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/vara-corde-480x320.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 600px, 100vw\" class=\"wp-image-1433\" title=\"vara-corde\" \/><\/span><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_blurb_container\"><h4 class=\"et_pb_module_header\">Experience the Procession<\/h4><div class=\"et_pb_blurb_description\"><p><span>If you wish to witness the Vara, we highly recommend arriving at Via Garibaldi or Piazza Duomo well in advance: the turnout is massive, and several streets are closed to traffic. Make the most of your day by also exploring the rest of the historic city center and the beautiful coastline of the Strait of Messina.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_section_2 et_pb_section et_section_regular et_flex_section\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_row_2 et_pb_row et_flex_row\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_4 et_pb_column et_flex_column et_pb_column_empty et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et_flex_column_2_5 et_flex_column_2_5_tablet et_flex_column_24_24_phone\"><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_5 et_pb_column et-last-child et_flex_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et_flex_column_3_5 et_flex_column_3_5_tablet et_flex_column_24_24_phone\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_2 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h1><span>Five Centuries of History<\/span><\/h1>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"2,1\"><b data-path-to-node=\"2,1\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">The Vara was created in 1535 on the occasion of the visit to Messina of Emperor Charles V of Austria, following his victories in Tunis and La Goletta against the corsair Barbarossa.<\/b><\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"2,2\"><b data-path-to-node=\"2,2\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">On September 19th of that year, the Senate of Messina decided to build the 'machina della Vara' for the sovereign\u2019s grand entry into the city, scheduled for October 21st. For this special occasion, the figures representing Christ and the Soul of the Virgin Mary were replaced in tribute to the Emperor with Charles V himself and a winged Victory holding a laurel branch.<\/b><\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"2,3\"><b data-path-to-node=\"2,3\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Since then, almost every year, the structure has returned to its original design dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, enduring through five centuries of local history. It was admired by Don John of Austria in 1571 upon his return from the Battle of Lepanto, as well as by generations of viceroys and foreign travelers. Among them were the French painter Jean-Laurent Hou\u00ebl, who left one of its most detailed descriptions in 1776, and the British Royal Navy Captain William Henry Smyth, who documented it in 1824 in a volume featuring a fine engraving. As early as 1591, the jurist Giuseppe Carnevale defined it as one of the most beautiful and magnificent things in the world for its height, scale, and craftsmanship.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_section_3 et_pb_section et_section_regular et_flex_section\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_row_3 et_pb_row et_flex_row\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_6 et_pb_column et-last-child et_flex_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et_flex_column_24_24 et_flex_column_24_24_tablet et_flex_column_24_24_phone\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_3 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h1 data-path-to-node=\"2,0\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><b data-path-to-node=\"2,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">A Special Documentary by the Municipality of Messina<\/b><\/h1>\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"2,1\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><b data-path-to-node=\"2,1\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Curated by the Department of Culture and Tourism<\/b><\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_divider_0 et_pb_divider et_pb_space et_pb_divider_position_center et_pb_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_divider_internal\"><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_row_4 et_pb_row et_flex_row\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_7 et_pb_column et-last-child et_flex_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et_flex_column_24_24 et_flex_column_24_24_tablet et_flex_column_24_24_phone\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_video_0 et_pb_video et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_video_box\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"TRA LE CORDE DELLA VARA. I Segreti della Manovra\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ukTD8t1BFho?feature=oembed\"  allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_section_4 et_pb_section et_section_regular et_block_section\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_row_5 et_pb_row et_pb_row_1-4_1-2_1-4 et_block_row et_block_row_1-4_1-2_1-4\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_8 et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_4 et_block_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_blurb_3 et_pb_blurb et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_blurb_position_top et_pb_module et_block_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_blurb_content\"><div class=\"et_pb_main_blurb_image et_animated\"><span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap et_pb_only_image_mode_wrap\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/visitme.comune.messina.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Logo-VisitME-def-singolo.png\" width=\"1821\" height=\"1124\" srcset=\"https:\/\/visitme.comune.messina.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Logo-VisitME-def-singolo.png 1821w, https:\/\/visitme.comune.messina.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Logo-VisitME-def-singolo-1280x790.png 1280w, https:\/\/visitme.comune.messina.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Logo-VisitME-def-singolo-980x605.png 980w, https:\/\/visitme.comune.messina.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Logo-VisitME-def-singolo-480x296.png 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) and (max-width: 1280px) 1280px, (min-width: 1281px) 1821px, 100vw\" class=\"wp-image-7\" alt=\"VisitME Logo\" \/><\/span><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_blurb_container\"><h1 class=\"et_pb_module_header\">VisitME Messina<\/h1><div class=\"et_pb_blurb_description\"><p>Tourism Brand of the City of Messina. Curated by the Department of Tourism of the City of Messina.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_9 et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_2 et_block_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_contact_form_0 et_pb_contact_form_container clearfix et_pb_module et_flex_module\" data-form_unique_num=\"0\" data-form_unique_id=\"7067d836e5cc6b8d0df5f1ee01accc26\" id=\"et_pb_contact_form_7067d836e5cc6b8d0df5f1ee01accc26\"><h1 class=\"et_pb_contact_main_title\">Contact us for further information<\/h1><div class=\"et-pb-contact-message\"><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_contact\"><form class=\"et_pb_contact_form et_flex_module\" method=\"post\" action=\"https:\/\/visitme.comune.messina.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1449\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_contact_field_0 et_pb_contact_field et_pb_module et_flex_module et_flex_column_12_24 et_flex_column_12_24_tablet et_flex_column_12_24_phone\" data-id=\"name\" data-type=\"input\"><label class=\"et_pb_contact_form_label\" for=\"et_pb_contact_0_name_0\">Nome and Surname<\/label><input type=\"text\" name=\"et_pb_contact_0_name_0\" id=\"et_pb_contact_0_name_0\" class=\"input\" data-required_mark=\"required\" data-field_type=\"input\" data-original_id=\"name\" placeholder=\"Nome and Surname\" title=\"\" value=\"\" \/><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_contact_field_1 et_pb_contact_field et_pb_module et_flex_module et_flex_column_12_24 et_flex_column_12_24_tablet et_flex_column_12_24_phone\" data-id=\"email\" data-type=\"email\"><label class=\"et_pb_contact_form_label\" for=\"et_pb_contact_0_email_1\">Email<\/label><input type=\"text\" name=\"et_pb_contact_0_email_1\" id=\"et_pb_contact_0_email_1\" class=\"input\" data-required_mark=\"required\" data-field_type=\"email\" data-original_id=\"email\" placeholder=\"Email\" title=\"\" value=\"\" \/><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_contact_field_2 et_pb_contact_field et_pb_module et_flex_module et_flex_column_24_24 et_flex_column_24_24_tablet et_flex_column_24_24_phone\" data-id=\"message\" data-type=\"text\"><label class=\"et_pb_contact_form_label\" for=\"et_pb_contact_0_message_2\">Message<\/label><textarea name=\"et_pb_contact_0_message_2\" id=\"et_pb_contact_0_message_2\" class=\"et_pb_contact_message input\" data-required_mark=\"required\" data-field_type=\"text\" data-original_id=\"message\" placeholder=\"Message\"><\/textarea><\/div>\n<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"et_pb_contactform_submit_7067d836e5cc6b8d0df5f1ee01accc26\" value=\"et_contact_proccess\" \/><div class=\"et_contact_bottom_container\"><div class=\"et_pb_contact_right et_pb_contact_field\"><p class=\"clearfix\"><label><span class=\"et_pb_contact_captcha_question\">8 + 3<\/span> = <input type=\"text\" size=\"2\" class=\"input et_pb_contact_captcha\" data-first_digit=\"8\" data-second_digit=\"3\" data-required_mark=\"required\" name=\"et_pb_contact_captcha_7067d836e5cc6b8d0df5f1ee01accc26\" autocomplete=\"off\" 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href=\"https:\/\/comune.messina.it\/it\" title=\"Municipality\"><strong>Municipality of Messina<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/eventi.comune.messina.it\" title=\"Event\"><strong>Messina Events<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/youngme.comune.messina.it\" title=\"YoungME\"><strong>YoungME<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/visitme.comune.messina.it\/en\/visitme-brand\/\" title=\"VisitME\"><strong>Brand VisitME<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1442,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1449","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/visitme.comune.messina.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1449","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/visitme.comune.messina.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/visitme.comune.messina.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/visitme.comune.messina.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/visitme.comune.messina.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1449"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/visitme.comune.messina.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1449\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1460,"href":"https:\/\/visitme.comune.messina.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1449\/revisions\/1460"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/visitme.comune.messina.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1442"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/visitme.comune.messina.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1449"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}