The Orange Festival in Centuripe

Among the products that more than any other in the popular imagination are identified with Sicily, certainly the blood orange is one of the main ones. The Sagra a Centuripe is dedicated to this fruit, which lends itself to being eaten both natural for its freshness and in various culinary preparations, a festival held every year and which attracts numerous visitors from all over Italy. Here is the main information about the event and how to take part.

The Centuripe Orange Festival

The City of Centuripe is one of 32 municipalities that are part of what is referred to as the "real blood orange of Sicily PGI", precisely for this reason since the early 2000s it has been chosen as the venue for the organization of this event which aims to be an important showcase for this citrus fruit which is known throughout the world.

During these three days dedicated to the Centuripe orange, various events are organized which have the aim not only of promoting the product but also of making the locality better known as there has always been a close relationship between the hills surrounding Centuripe, the climate very mild which favors its production and the blood orange which, compared to all the other types, is particularly rich in anthocyanins, which are a natural dye which gives the typical bright red colour, but above all in antioxidants which are essential to combat appearance of free radicals, the main cause of premature aging.

The origins of the Festival in Centuripe

Despite being one of the best known and most appreciated festivals on the whole island, in reality the one dedicated to the Centuripe blood orange is not an event with a long history but its birth dates back to around the early 2000s and was born from the need to give dignity to a local agricultural product that is very good but little appreciated outside the territorial borders.

Over time, then, the event has taken on an increasingly complex character, with a full calendar of events which not only includes conferences and other informative events but above all a series of entertainment ranging from food to entertainment, from music at the sales stands obviously all focused on blood orange.
After a few more subdued editions due to the covid emergency, the organizers aim to give even more impetus to the next event, with a rich program especially from a food and wine point of view, with the possibility of purchasing not only oranges but also typical products made based on this fruit, such as the famous jam.

When the festival takes place in Centuripe

The Sagra a Centuripe lasts three days and it is usually preferred to drop the event on the weekend, so as to allow even those who do not live nearby or are busy with work to take part in the event. The Orange Festival is not linked to any religious celebration but is organized during the orange harvest period, so it is usually held between December and March, the most favorable period for the ripening of Sicily's PGI blood oranges. In some years the organizers wanted to make the festival coincide with the carnival, for a riot of colors and joy with the blood orange as the great protagonist of all the scheduled events.

Where the Orange Festival takes place

The Centuripe Orange Festival is held in this locality in the province of Enna which is one of the territories in which this fruit is mostly cultivated, also in relation to the fertile soil and the particularly temperate climatic conditions which allow the plants to grow luxuriantly and give very juicy fruits. Centuripe has a long history that has its roots in the Hellenistic period and was one of the most prosperous centers of the Magna Grecia.
This thousand-year history is still visible today thanks to the beautiful regional archaeological museum which contains many historical finds from Roman times onwards.

However, it is certainly not the only place of interest in the area, as those who go to the Centuripe festival will also be able to take advantage of it to visit the Roman mausoleum also known as the castle of Corradino or the Roman baths which date back to the imperial era .

How to do it Festival in Centuripe

Undoubtedly the PGI blood orange of Sicily is the great protagonist of the Sagra in Centuripe which however tries to make a rich calendar of events available to its visitors.
If during the day, for example, conferences and educational moments dedicated to this thousand-year-old and always tasty fruit alternate, from the afternoon onwards it is food and wine that conquers everyone, with the opening of stands that allow you to taste the fruit in every way, from freshly squeezed orange juice to desserts made with blood orange jam.
There are also other stands offering typical local delicacies, both sweet and savoury. There is no shortage of musical performances and other kinds of entertainment.

How to get to Centuripe

Those who are interested in participating in the Centuripe Orange Festival have numerous means at their disposal to reach this beautiful location. For example, for those who prefer to travel by car, both from Palermo and Catania, the way to go is the A19, with the Catenanuova motorway exit. From here, just take the state road 121 or 192 to arrive directly at your destination. For those, on the other hand, who cannot resist the charm of a train journey, the reference station is that of Catenanuova which is connected to both Catania and Palermo and Enna. From here it is possible to continue the journey with the local bus service that takes you directly to Centuripe. Long-distance buses are also operational from the main towns of the province and from the larger cities, such as Palermo and Catania.