Buccheri Medieval Festival

Knights and footmen, princesses and ladies, bows of fire; banners, flag-wavers and jugglers everywhere: it is the Buccheri Medieval Festival, on the slopes of the Mount Lauro, in the Free Municipal Consortium of Syracuse, South-Eastern Sicily.

Here, in the month of August, history takes a long leap backwards, to return to the medieval origins of the village and recall the atmosphere of the past with games, parades and ancient dishes.
The event, a true and great historical re-enactment, involves the whole town for two whole days, to which neighbors and tourists flock to witness the return of the Middle Ages in Buccheri.

Buccheri Castle is open to visitors, the flag-wavers with banners lead the Historical Procession through the streets of the centre, the participants wear fantastic medieval costumes, tunics and long, finely decorated cloaks; the streets are filled with stalls, where you can buy souvenirs, but above all typical products.

Among the most engaging shows of the Buccheri Medieval Festival there are undoubtedly the medieval games, with knights facing each other along fiery paths, which light up the night. And then, jugglers and stilt walkers who move to the rhythm of the drums, concerts of medieval music and folk dances.

The local public and visitors, between cultural initiatives and entertainment, attend this incredible and highly accurate re-enactment, willingly allowing themselves to be transported back in time.

The story linked to the medieval festival of Buccheri

Buccheri has never forgotten its medieval past: as well as the houses of the village, with their architectures, recall the times of the courts, during the Buccheri Medieval Festival the population is transformed, reliving its history and the traditions of a thousand years ago and also making them known to tourists.

The Festival was born in the mid-nineties and has been repeated every year since then, promoted by the Municipality of Buccheri with the participation of cultural associations, theater companies and many other artists, involved both in the organization of fantastic street shows and in the creation of costumes (faithful reproductions of medieval clothes) and banners.

When the Buccheri medieval festival takes place

In the month of August, on the 17th and 18th, the village of Buccheri relives its history, starting from sunset, for two days of magic. Usually, the MedFest is anticipated by Medieval Drum Festival, which takes place one day earlier.

Where the Buccheri medieval festival takes place

Buccheri, on Monte Lauro, in the Libero Municipal Consortium of Syracuse, is located at an altitude of about 820 meters above sea level. Here, in the three main squares of the town, Piazza Roma, Piazza Fratti and Piazza Toselli, medieval events and games take place, you can find stalls and food stands, you can admire the knights and fireworks. Along the streets of the center, the Historical Procession winds its way, starting from the stairway of the Church of Sant'Antonio Abate and crosses the whole village.

What to do during the Buccheri medieval festival

Admiring traditional clothes and hairstyles, banners and vestments, you will be fascinated by the medieval atmosphere that emanates from the town, made even more realistic by the aromas of freshly baked bread and roasts, as well as the typical medieval dishes that can be found at every corner. only during the Festival: participating in the Buccheri Medieval Festival means being catapulted back in time and the only thing you can do is indulge in the fun; a centuries-old amusement, but at the same time brand new for the visitor who arrives in Buccheri for the first time; fans of historical re-enactments, on the other hand, will already know what to do at the Festival and will be happy to return to participate in a new edition every year.

However, all those who arrive in Buccheri for the MedFest cannot miss a tour of the town, where the permanent traces of the medieval past of the village are alive at any time of the year. After having tasted unknown dishes and attended shows and games from the past, stay a few more days in the village and visit the Church of Sant'Antonio Abate and the Church of Santa Maria Maddalena. This sacred building is a real work of art and if its facade promises marvels, the interiors leave the visitor amazed by the richness of the decorations. Finally, just outside the village, there is the Church of Our Lady of Grace, also of remarkable beauty.

In Buccheri you can also taste modern dishes, but made with genuine and km 0 products, such as ancient wheat bread and the other specialties that can be found in the restaurants of the village.

Those who stay in Buccheri on the occasion of the Medieval Festival can take the opportunity to explore the surroundings as well, arriving for example in Vizzini, the village of Verghian Imaginary Museum, just 13 km from Buccheri; also Ragusa, about 39 km away, is a destination that offers extraordinary beauties to its visitors: the St. John the Baptist Cathedral, Tommaso Campailla Medical Museum and Palazzo Nicastro Barone del Lago, are just some of the wonders of Ragusa.

How to get to the Buccheri medieval festival

Buccheri, in the Free Municipal Consortium of Syracuse, is only 56 km from the city and those who wish to participate in the MedFest can easily reach the village by car or train.

Those who prefer to travel by car can take the A18 Messina-Catania motorway to the Melilli exit, then continuing for 27 km to their destination; those traveling by train can book a ticket to Ragusa Station and continue by bus or shuttle to the centre.