Ricotta Festival in Maniace

A great festival in Maniace, a municipality in the Metropolitan City of Catania a few kilometers from Nebrodi Park, has been taking place for several years between the months of April and May: the queen of the festival is ricotta, one of the symbolic products of the delicious Sicilian pastry; in the stands it will also be possible to taste the other delicious local cheeses.

In these festive days, between street artists and cabaret shows, music, fun and entertainment, everywhere in the town it is possible to enjoy the fresh Sicilian cheesefreshly mixed, also accompanied by other typical dairy products of the local tradition, which can be found on display in the stands set up on the street.
The first days outdoors on the island can also be spent visiting the natural beauties of the surroundings, perhaps after having tasted the delicious cheeses of the festival, taking advantage of the first suns to discover all the other cultural and gastronomic riches of the area.

Flavor and tradition are the main ingredients of this festival, which mix perfectly with the interesting itineraries proposed by the Municipality of Maniace in collaboration with the Pro Loco, with the natural beauties of the surroundings and with the carefree joy of the street artists, for offer to inhabitants and visitors of Maniace unforgettable days.

Those who participate in the Ricotta Festival in Maniace will find all the warm welcome of the Sicilian land, offered in the form of genuine food, accommodation facilities ready to give hospitality to visitors and lots of fun.

The history of the Ricotta Festival in Maniace

The Ricotta Festival in Maniace is a tradition that has been going on for almost 50 years now and which today more than ever offers its visitors the possibility of discovering the ancient local mastery with which ricotta, the main product found at the festival, is mixed.

This appointment unites two important ricotta-producing towns in Sicily, namely Maniace and Vizzini, important centers for the gastronomic economy of the region and capable of attracting the attention of all enthusiasts of the world of cheeses, from the closest areas to the most distant countries : everyone is invited to participate in the Ricotta Festival in Maniace.

The party is organized by the Municipality of Maniace, which, to make this gastronomic experience truly unique, makes use of collaborators such as the Pro Loco, local breeders, Ghiran Association under the patronage of the Sicilian Region and in collaboration with the Nebrodi Park.

When the Ricotta Festival takes place in Maniace

Between the end of April and May 4st, Maniace celebrates the local product par excellence, ricotta, with XNUMX uninterrupted days of celebration, in which it invites everyone to participate, also taking advantage of the arrival of summer. From April 27th to May 1th, in Piazza Marconi, citizens, tourists and gourmands in general will find the dairy stands to taste ricotta and cheeses in the open air.

What to do during the Ricotta Festival in Maniace

The Ricotta Festival in Maniace is a unique opportunity to savor the summer, celebrating it with all the gastronomic and naturalistic riches offered by Sicily: fresh and tasty cheeses, the most classic of the desserts of Italian cuisine, namely the Sicilian cannolo, outdoor walks, organized tours and visits to the Nebrodi Park and more, shows with street artists, dance competitions, music, cabaret: the opportunities to be together and have fun in Maniace are all concentrated in the days of the festival.

Any examples? By visiting the festival, it is possible to watch the ricotta being poured and then taste it as soon as it is ready; between one taste and another, the streets are filled with artists who stage fun and engaging shows to attend for free; the festive atmosphere in the village is enriched by local folklore with the presence of the famous Sicilian carts, alternating with the parade of vintage cars.

Music and dance are not lacking, with the Majorettes to open the dances; those who want to spend a few moments of tranquility, without renouncing to discover the roots of the place, can go and visit the museums in the area or follow the Verga itinerary, to discover the author of the Mastro Don Gesualdo.

Those who love nature, visiting Maniace must not miss the beauty of the surroundings of the town, perhaps taking advantage of an excursion on horseback, to live the experience of communion with nature even more fully. Returning from a ride, it is still possible to eat in the village, tasting all the delicious Nebrodi cheeses, produced according to the ancient local tradition.

The accommodation facilities that welcome tourists in Maniace also make local products available to their guests and the opportunity to play sports such as horse riding: those who stay overnight in the area can find both elegant hotels perfect for total relaxation, and facilities with gardens and outdoor activities, to take advantage of the beauties of nature.

How to get to the Ricotta Festival in Maniace

Maniace is located in North Eastern Sicily, in the province of Catania. The town is easily reachable from the main cities of the island: from the A19 Palermo-Catania, those traveling by car can take the exit for Paternò and continue towards Bronte, for a distance of about 50 km, while from the A18 Messina-Catania the exit is for Fiumefreddo, continuing for about 40 km; those traveling by train can get off at the Sant'Agata Militello station, about 25 km from Maniace, which can be traveled by bus or shuttle.