Tarot Festival in Francofonte

La citrus city is located in the Free Municipal Consortium of SIRACUSAin southeastern Sicily. Just under 12.000 inhabitants normally live here, but in the period of Tarot Festival in Francofonte, the town fills up with visitors from nearby villages and other cities: this agri-food event that has been happening for over a decade now brings the best agricultural products of the area, blood oranges of Francofonte, as well as lots of fun with shows, folk music and tastings.

Between February and March, Francofonte hosts the Tarot Festival, offering all participants the true taste of Sicilian oranges. At the stands set up in the village, you will find traditional flavours, but also surprising orange combinations, such as those of beer.

Among the blood oranges of Francofonte, all a IGP mark, in addition to the Tarocco you will find the Sanguinello and the Moro: in Francofonte you are invited to the feast of the flavors and scents of Sicily.

The history of the Tarot Festival in Francofonte

In Sicily the blood orange is a tradition and so, to celebrate this tradition and make Francofonte's beloved blood oranges even more known on the island, but also in the rest of the country, in 2009 the agri-food event Tarocco Arancia Rossa di Francofonte was born now in its thirteenth edition.

In the local economy, the production and trade of Tarocco blood oranges have always been the great wealth of the country and every year the local product par excellence is celebrated and presented to consumers.

When the Tarot Festival takes place in Francofonte

The Tarot Festival in Francofonte takes place on 28 February and the 1 March. The stands in the village are set up around 10 in the morning, while the party begins at 17:30 with the inauguration of the festival, among artists and music, to continue until 22:00.

Where the Tarot Festival takes place in Francofonte

Francofonte, in southeastern Sicily, is located in the Libero Municipal Consortium of Syracuse, not far from Catania and halfway between the Ionian Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. The Tarot Festival takes place mainly in Piazza Garibaldi, but along the streets of the town you will find stands for tastings and also the parade of Sicilian carts.

What to do during the Tarot Festival in Francofonte

La food show dedicated to the Tarocco is an excellent opportunity to discover the blood orange of Sicily, enjoying all the flavors that local recipes can offer you. Not only that: have fun with music and street performances, discover the traditions and listen to the conferences of the experts, to learn all the secrets of the famous Sicilian oranges.

You can take advantage of the festival, to also organize one vacation in Francofonte, discovering all the beauties of the centre: there are many churches, such as the Mother Church of Sant'Antonio Abate or the Church of the Holy Cross, Gravina-Cruyllas Palace which became the seat of the Municipality and the recently renovated Canali Fountain. But the attractions of Francofonte do not end there: the churches to discover are much more numerous, with architectural styles from Gothic to Baroque; among the buildings in the center you will also find the Orphanage of Santa Rosa (ex Monastery) and the Giardinello Fountain, which welcomes you at the northern entrance to the village.

Furthermore, near Francofonte you can visit the ruins of the Chadra Castle, ancient and mysterious site.

Those who want to relax with a walk by the sea or in a big city can reach Catania or Syracuse with about an hour's journey by car.

How to get to the Tarot Festival in Francofonte

Francofonte is easily reached by car or train: who travels by car, can take the Catania-Siracusa motorway, with the exit closest to the town, for Lentini-Carlentini just 18 km away; alternatively, the exit for Sortino from the A18 Messina-Catania is about 23 km from the town. Who prefers to travel on the train, you can book your ticket up to the Ragusa or Catania Centrale stations, both about 36 km from Francofonte. At the station, you will find buses and shuttles waiting for you to take you to the centre.