Among Alia's recipes best known to those who are not local, a typical dessert like Scattata is certainly among the preferences of all visitors who find themselves coming to this mountain town in the Sicilian hinterland, which has retained a strong bond with its traditions.
Here, then, is everything you need to know about the shot, Alia's typical dessert, but also some information on the village to organize your own tour.
The shot: Alia's typical dessert
It is one of the recipes most typical of the area. The shot is made with a dough made from local almonds, soft wheat flour, obviously sugar and then cinnamon or lemon to taste. Once the pasta has been prepared, small balls are formed which are rolled in colored sprinkles, then placed on the oven tray for cooking: the pasta will expand and, once golden, the snap will be ready to be enjoyed. According to some historical documents, the recipe for the shot It dates back to the early twentieth century and was a dessert that was prepared and consumed on important holidays. Over time, the tradition of preparing the snap at home has been somewhat lost but the tradition of purchasing it in pastry shops and bakeries has remained, which no longer prepare it only for Christmas, as it used to be, but all year round.
Alia, what to eat
In addition to the shot, Alia's territory also has many others typical recipes which will surely conquer even the most demanding palates. On the savory side, one of these is la walled meat, a kind of meat pie enriched with egg and spices, to be cooked in the oven. Even sardines alla beccafico or meatballs with fennel are two specialties that can certainly be considered not only typical of Alia but of all of Sicily, even if here they are prepared with strictly local ingredients. Another typical dessert, then, is almond paste, to be accompanied with various types of aromas, in order to further enhance the taste of the sweets.
What to see in Alia
There are many beauties that Alia reserve, so it is worth organizing a tour to discover its monuments and not just the kitchen.
La mother church, for example, is the one entitled to Our Lady of Grace and was built in 1639: the rest of the town then rose around this structure. The oldest neighborhood in the village is the one known by the name of Rapatello, which extends right in front of the mother church: in this slice of land you can encounter some architectural magnificences such as Guccione Palace, which is a beautiful example of Sicilian Liberty style.
A short distance away, then, there is the church of Sant'Anna whose construction dates back to the eighteenth century: it is particular because it has a bell tower which is completely covered in colored majolica on the outside. In the immediate vicinity there are also the church of San Giuseppe, inside which there is a beautiful wooden statue made by Bagnasco which depicts the saint, and the Ethnoanthropological Museum which, instead, includes all the working professions of Alia's oldest professions.
What to do in Alia
La Alia's most characteristic party, one of the most heartfelt, is that of San Giuseppe which obviously takes place on March 19th. The most important moment of this anniversary is represented by the procession of the statue of the saint but the custom of organizing a lunch for the most needy to thank Joseph for the graces received is also very particular. There is also the patronal feast, i.e. that of Our Lady of Grace, which is held in July and includes first the procession and then shows and fireworks. Also worth mentioning is feast of Santa Rosalia, which is held in September and ends with a beautiful fireworks display, as well as Sicily Breeds a livestock event which instead is organized in October and is one of the most important on the whole island.
How to get to Alia
Those who want to visit the beauty and gastronomic delights of Alia will be able to reach the village directly by car or from Palermo or Trapani, taking the E90 while, from Catania, the A19 is recommended. From Messina the most suitable road is the A20 followed by the E90, from Syracuse the A19 and then the E932, from Agrigento the Ss189. Finally, from Enna the reference road is the Ss121.
Alia is also easily reachable with the train, given that it has its own railway station which it shares with the municipality of Roccapalumba and which is located on the line that connects Palermo to Agrigento or Caltanissetta. Finally, those who want to travel in an alternative way can choose the bus numbers made available by the AST company which connect the village to the main cities of the island.
