Prickly Pear Festival in Roccapalumba

roccapalumba is a municipality in the Metropolitan City of Palermo. Also known outside the island as the country of stars, Roccapalumba is known especially for the production of prickly pears, local product celebrated every year at Prickly Pear Festival in Roccapalumba.

The official name of the event is Opuntia-Ficus-indica Fest and the event takes place in October within a large event which is theSican October.

The prickly pear is presented as a true treasure of the earth: you taste the fruit, you try particular recipes made with this delicious ingredient and you also discover new ways of using every part of the precious plant, such as the infusions and decoctions that are made with the dried leaves. However, there is no shortage of others on the table either traditional flavors of the island, from busiate to couscous.

The Prickly Pear Festival in Roccapalumba has a rich calendar of events including tastings, shows, culture and entertainment to celebrate the Sicilian autumn.

The history of the Prickly Pear Festival in Roccapalumba

The first Prickly Pear Festival in Roccapalumba was that of 2000: since then, every year the local farmers reach Roccapalumba to present their wonderful and tasty products, which for hundreds of years now have become typical of Sicily.

The Mayor, the civil, military and religious authorities, the local inhabitants and many visitors take part in this great event every year gastronomic event, which brings the prickly pear to the table with a delicious seasoning of art, culture and entertainment.

When the Prickly Pear Festival takes place in Roccapalumba

The prickly pear festival in Roccapalumba begins on 14 October at 17:00 and ends on 16 October at midnight.

Where the prickly pear festival takes place in Roccapalumba

Along the main streets of Old Town, there are the many food stands of the Festival, while other places to remember on this special occasion are the Rocco Chinnici Council Chamber and the Social Center Terrace.

What to do during the Prickly Pear Festival in Roccapalumba

Fun and taste are the watchwords that guide visitors to the Prickly Pear Festival in Roccapalumba: tasting, learning, having fun and letting loose to the rhythm of the music, in a real autumn festival, in the mild climate of Sicily will be the main things to do during the festival. At the end of the festival, however, why not dedicate yourself to discovering the country?

By staying in Roccapalumba, you can discover the historic center, where the Church of SS. Peter and Paul, Mother Church of the village which houses many ancient works of art, including an eighteenth-century wooden crucifix. If you love visiting sacred buildings, you will also find the Church of Santa Rosalia and Shrine of Our Lady of Light. The other attractions of the center are the Museum of Industrial Railway Archaeology, the furnaces and the troughs. Very interesting is the Territory Museum, where you can discover up close how local bread, oil and wine are produced.

In the surroundings of the town, you will find some stops to include in a small tour of the area, such as Regalgioffoli, an ancient center with Arab origins or Vicari, about 13 km away.

Halfway between the Ficuzza Wood and Madonie ParkFinally, Roccapalumba is also a strategic base for those who want to discover the natural beauties of Sicily, including the beaches on the north coast and big cities like Palermo.

One last piece of advice for those preparing to leave is to forget about your diet: in Sicily you can enjoy delicacies every day that are difficult to give up, starting from finger food such as arancini, panelle bread and croquettes or battered vegetables, through to first courses delicious and tasty like baked pasta, up to the freshest fish and 0 km meat cooked according to ancient traditional recipes.

How to get to the Prickly Pear Festival in Roccapalumba

Roccapalumba is a municipality located in the Metropolitan City of Palermo: getting to the center is easy, both for those traveling by car and for those arriving by train.
With theauto, take the A19 Palermo-Catania, to the Termini Imerese exit 19 km from the centre, while with the train, get off at Termini Imerese station and continue the journey by bus or shuttle.