Festival of Lu Cannatuni in Salaparuta

A young festival, but already loved by the locals and full of participants is the Festival of the typical sweet Lu Cannatuni in Salaparuta, the municipality in the Free Municipal Consortium of Trapani which celebrates the Easter dessert heart-shaped, with the traditional egg in the center and the surface rich in paste and sugar decorations.

Lu Cannatuni it is made with a sweet mixture of water and flour, while the hard-boiled egg is added whole and with all the peel before being baked: at the Salaparuta festival it is possible to taste this delicious sweet of the Sicilian tradition , which can also be found in the shape of a basket, flower or dove, always decorated with colored sugar balls.

All desserts, prepared by professional pastry chefs specialized in the production of local dishes , are offered to participants who visit the Festival: visitors will be able to taste Lu Cannatuni while having fun with the artistic shows organized by the Municipality, on the occasion of the Festival of the typical Lu Cannatuni dessert in Salaparuta.
In fact, there will not only be the typical Sicilian dessert to characterize this young gastronomic initiative, but also numerous stands Paruta Square , where you can admire the desserts displayed in the Conference Hall, taste the typical Easter product and attend the award ceremony for the best Cannatuni of the Festival.

Other local gastronomic products will be offered during the tasting and all participants will be able to attend various interesting events such as the parade of vintage cars , the Sicilian folk concert with popular music and the football tournament, to really get to know all the traditions of Salaparuta.

The history of the typical Salaparuta dessert festival

The festival of the typical Lu Cannatuni dessert in Salaparuta born in the 2015 , when the Salaparuta Santa Pasqua Association promotes this gastronomic and at the same time cultural initiative, to celebrate the typical dessert of the town and make it known to everyone.

The history of the cake is linked to a moment of great difficulty for the local population, when in 1968 an earthquake destroyed a large part of the town: the thought of this cake, given by aunts to their children and mothers-in-law to daughters-in-law, represented a pleasant memory of ancient traditions , of support in such a dramatic moment.

The dessert is typical of the Easter period and in fact it was given to children, who could not eat eggs before Resurrection Sunday.

When the Lu Cannatuni dessert festival takes place

The festival takes place during the Easter period and therefore the appointment with the two days entirely dedicated to the typical dessert, it changes from year to year, based on the timing of Easter. Traditionally the Festival begins at 14 pm on the first day.

Where the festival takes place

The festival of the typical Lu Cannatuni dessert in Salaparuta takes place in Piazza Principe Paruta (Market Square) in the southern area of ​​the country.

What to do during the Lu Cannatuni dessert festival

The activities promoted by the Santa Pasqua Association on the occasion of the festival are numerous and tourists are invited to participate tastings , to the exhibition and award ceremony of the best Cannatuni of the Fair; Furthermore, those who love sport can attend the football tournament , while car enthusiasts will be able to admire the parade and exhibition of vintage cars.
Furthermore, in Salaparuta there are also other attractions to discover, first of all the Church of Santa Caterina Virgin and Martyr , which is located in the center. In the modern style Church, it is also possible to follow Mass for tourists on holiday who do not want to miss the functions.

In the surroundings of Salaparuta, then, there are the Villa and the Leopard Museum , symbolic places for lovers of literature, imprinted in the collective imagination by the famous Sicilian novelist Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa.

A holiday in Salaparuta, however, will also be the perfect opportunity to relax, taking advantage of the first warm weather of the year with a stop on the beach: the closest one is the beach of Porto Palo of Menfi , about 36 km from the centre, which can be reached in half an hour and offers clear and transparent waters. Along the way, you will come across Menfi, a small and beautiful center where the eighteenth-century Church of Purgatory, Palazzo Pignatelli and the oldest palace in the country, Palazzo Tito, are located.

Not to be missed, for lovers of history and art is finally the Castello Svevo , built in 1238 at the behest of Frederick II of Swabia. From Salaparuta it is easy to get to Trapani, but you can also reach Agrigento, with just an hour and a half of travel. These destinations are highly recommended for those who have a few extra days of holiday available and want to learn more about the history of the island.

Definitely worth visiting if you are in Salaparuta is the old part of the town, that is the ruins of Salaparuta and then set off to discover the surroundings: those who want to know the history of these areas can visit the ghost town of Poggioreale , where despite the population having been driven away by the 1968 earthquake, numerous palaces and buildings are still almost intact, which silently tell their story.

One last piece of advice, so that your holiday in Sicily can be truly unforgettable, is to try the local cuisine which offers you delicious and extremely fresh dishes, such as octopus salad or Sicilian rolls.

How to get to Salaparuta for the Lu Cannatuni dessert festival

The festival of the typical sweet Lu Cannatuni in Salaparuta takes place in Sparuta Square , in the center of the town: getting there is easy both by car and by train.

Who travels in auto , traveling along the A29 Palermo-Mazara del Vallo, you can get to the Gallitello exit and continue for 12 km to Salaparuta, while those who prefer the train , can get off at Castelvetrano Station and continue by bus or shuttle for the next 20 km towards the town.