The Porchetta Festival in Belpasso

Porchetta Festival in Belpasso

Nature and taste, tradition and sharing are the ingredients that make the Porchetta Festival in Belpasso an event not to be missed. Every year, in the month of January, residents and tourists in the municipality of Catania and its surroundings can spend a special evening near the Etna park, enjoying delicious porchetta in front of the lit bonfires. The event, which satisfies the palate of adults, is a perfect opportunity to entertain children too in a special evening.

In the gastronomy stands of this culinary route you will also find many typical local products and before the festival kicks off, there is no lack of a moment of recollection with the community.

The history of the Porchetta Festival in Belpasso

The gastronomic evening takes place during the Feast of Saint Anthony Abbot, a religious festival in which the blessing of the animals is celebrated and the relic of the saint is exposed to the faithful. The event is proposed every year by the group "Feast of Our Lady of Grace" which is responsible for organizing festivals and religious events in the area. The demonstration is renamed "A Fire of Love" in honor of Mary's joy at the Annunciation and her desire to share God's love with others. For this reason, the festival is not only a delicious gastronomic event, but also a moment to enjoy the joy of sharing that comes from eating together.

When the Porchetta Festival takes place in Belpasso

The Porchetta Festival in Belpasso takes place every year in January, on the occasion of the Feast of Sant'Antonio Abate which is celebrated on 17 January. The festival takes place a few days before this date, usually around January 13th. The organizing committee communicates all useful information through its social channels, on Facebook and on the parish website.

The event begins with the lighting of the bonfire in the late afternoon, between 18.30 and 19.00, and continues into the night until 23.30.

Where the Porchetta Festival takes place in Belpasso

Belpasso, the municipality of Catania that hosts the festival, extends from the peaks of Etna to the province of Syracuse. Its origins date back to the XNUMXth century. The festival takes place in Piazza Sant'Antonio, Near the church of Sant'Antonio Abate.

What to do during the Porchetta Festival in Belpasso

The gastronomic event offers visitors and the faithful the opportunity to eat and have fun outdoors and is an opportunity to share the joy of being together with family and friends, but also with the community and with tourists who join the spirit of the party living the local traditions.

In addition to the porchetta, the highlight of the evening, guests are offered typical local products of the peasant tradition where there is no shortage of meat, fresh pasta and desserts to try among the various stands that make up the gastronomic itinerary.

Before lighting the suggestive bonfires, visitors can watch the projection of religious films which become a source of meditation and sharing of prayer, even spiritual nourishment.
However, Belpasso also offers a great naturalistic richness, because it is located in the Etna park. The festival can also become an opportunity to immerse yourself in the beauty of a mountain nature characterized by the presence of the volcano or to walk in the open air visiting the Mud volcanoes: also known as For Saline, are a natural spectacle in which to admire these small volcanoes that erupt clay, water and saline substances.

The country offers visitors many architectural beauties to discover: the Church of Santa Maria Immacolata, Shrine of Our Lady of the Rock, Buffalo Palace they are among the main sites of tourist and religious interest. The Sanctuary of the Madonna della Roccia is a particularly important place of worship, as it is the site of numerous apparitions of the Madonna over time. Surrounded by greenery, the Sanctuary is also a stop on a nature trail that can be done on foot or by bicycle.

How to get to the porchetta festival in belpasso? Which paths to follow?

The municipality of Belpasso is located about 550 meters above sea level, in the province of Catania. To reach the Sagra a Belpasso by car, travel on the highway from the main Sicilian cities:
from Catania Palermo take the Misterbianco/Paternò exit, from Catania Messina the exit is for San Giovanni Galermo, while from Syracuse again the Misterbianco/Paternò exit. From Catania, take the Statale 121 towards the Paternò exit. However, Belpasso is well connected to the city of Catania also by bus service, so arriving at Catania station by train you can easily reach the center by bus.
Once you arrive in Belpasso, it is easy to reach the places where the festival takes place: Piazza Sant'Antonio is located in the southern area of ​​the town, along Via III Traversa between the intersections with Via I Retta Ponente and Via Roma.
Between food and spirituality, Belpasso invites adults and children to taste a part of its traditions in the wonderful setting of the Etna Park.