Maiorchino Festival in Novara di Sicilia

Il Mallorcan it's a goat cheese typical that has many admirers not only in Sicily but also in the rest of Italy. Its particular round shape and the fact that each piece reaches a weight of about 18/20 kg which make it perfect for the throwing competition.

Here's what it consists of festival in Novara di Sicilia and all the information necessary to take part.

Description of the Maiorchino Festival in Novara di Sicilia

La Maiorchino Festival in Novara di Sicilia it is an annual appointment that always attracts many visitors. It is not, in fact, just an opportunity to food and wine promotion of the territory, to let everyone know about this delicious cheese and many others typical products of the area, but above all of one sports competition which sees the wheels of cheese as great protagonists: the tournament of Majorcan throw it is in fact a much-loved folkloristic moment that every year sees the different factions of the town oppose each other.

The event takes place in carnival period and is enriched by many other highly anticipated moments such as that of Macaroni, a must for all gourmands but also for those who love to experience the table as a moment of aggregation and joy. All seasoned with music, different shows and a moment of culture, to discover one of the most beautiful villages in Italy.

The competition is organized by the Circolo Sportivo Olimpia and until a few years ago it was an initiative reserved only for the male public who could participate in the competition. Today, however, there is a special competition reserved for women and one for boys under a certain age, who compete with smaller forms of Majorcan.

The story linked to the festival in Novara di Sicilia

The appointment of the Maiorchino festival in Novara di Sicilia this year reaches its 34th edition but in reality the Majorcan tournament it has a much longer history.

According to some research, in fact, the game dates back to the beginning of the seventeenth century, when as a pastime in the cooler season, men began to roll the first wheels of Majorcan. In fact, previously such a practice could not have been possible because Novara di Sicilia had few roads that were not even paved, so the cheese could not have rolled properly. Subsequently, it was decided to combine the tournament with a gastronomic appointment to make everyone aware of the product, which is consumed during the festival in Novara di Sicilia in many different recipes.
There is no shortage of musical entertainment, with musical guests that vary from edition to edition and the performance of the village band.

When the festival takes place in Novara di Sicilia

The Maiorchino Festival in Novara di Sicilia takes place every year in carnival period and for this reason its date is extremely variable as it is closely linked to the holiday.

The actual appointment takes place over a single weekend but the qualifying "groups" of the Majorcan throwing tournament are held every previous weekend of the month. Through these appointments, then, the list of competitors who will participate in the semi-finals, which are held on the Saturday of the festival, and the final which is held on Sunday, will be defined. Generally, therefore, the festival in Novara di Sicilia is held between February and March.

Where the event takes place

One of the peculiarities of the Maiorchino festival in Novara di Sicilia is represented by the fact that the whole town is involved in its organization and every alleyway becomes the scene of some moment of the event. In particular, the path that is carried out by the forms of Mallorca starts from Via Duomo, which in local nomenclature is known as spotty cantuea, continues through all the alleys of the town through which the Mallorcan, linked with 'lazzada which is a lace that serves to give the push to the movement, up to the arrival area, which is called in sarva. At the end of the race, participants and visitors will be able to visit the many food and wine stands need handicraft who are present during the event.

What to do during the Maiorchino Festival in Novara di Sicilia

The festival in Novara di Sicilia is a very rich moment in terms of appointments and offers entertainment for every taste. The event is organized for the promotion of the territory and of this cheese in particular, so it is obvious that the Maiorchino is the main ingredient of the many specialties that can be tasted and purchased at the stands.

Obviously the most eagerly awaited event is that of the Majorcan throwing competition which involves the participation of all the spectators who, on the side of the streets, cheer on their favorites. The competition ends with the so-called Maccheronata, a delicious appointment during which all those present can enjoy a portion of fresh pasta, seasoned with tomato sauce and a sprinkling of Maiorchino.
Among the culinary stands, however, there is much more to taste since the aim is to promote the area and its products in general, so you will find local bread, wine, cured meats and much more.

How to get to Novara di Sicilia

Novara di Sicilia can be easily reached from both Catania and Messina with aauto. It is necessary to take the A 18 motorway and then continue on the Ss 185 to the Giardini-Naxos exit.

Those who, on the other hand, prefer the train, can make the journey from both Catania and Messina with the regional lines and stop at the Novara-Montalbano-Furnari station, which is about 20 km away, or at Castroreale Terme which is 25 km away. From there it is then possible to continue to the destination through the service of bus premises, supplied by the AST company, departing from both Catania and Messina.