Asparagus Festival in Mirabella Imbaccari

Asparagus is a typically spring crop and it is precisely in the spring days, close to April 25th, that every year the Asparagus Festival in Mirabella Imbaccari, a town in the Sicilian hinterland located between Catania and Enna.

What does it consist of and how can I participate? Here's everything you need to know on the topic.

The description of the Asparagus Festival in Mirabella Imbaccari

The asparagus festival is a food and wine event, organized every year to raise awareness of an excellent local production, which is precisely theasparagus. During the event, obviously, the great protagonist is asparagus which is presented in various recipes to make it known and appreciated by everyone, but another aspect is also explored, which is that of its production, carried out according to innovative techniques that are used to obtain a quality vegetable. Finally, there is no shortage of events that involve the town and aim to make it known, through guided tours of the most beautiful places.

The history linked to the asparagus festival in Mirabella Imbaccari

The history of the asparagus festival is relatively recent as the production of this vegetable only started around 2010, thanks to the iron will of the agronomist Enzo Rasà who wanted to exploit the tunnel technique to be able to make the plants bear fruit right from end of February, therefore much earlier than a classic one asparagus cultivation. In this way the vegetables are more tender and above all you beat the competition on time, since they are ready to be picked long before everyone else.

When the Asparagus Festival takes place

The asparagus festival is held every year in spring, the period which is usually when the vegetable is ready to be picked and consumed on everyone's tables. Since it is not a religious event, the date of the festival can vary from year to year but is usually organized around April 25th.

Where the Asparagus Festival takes place

The event takes place in the village of Mirabella Imbaccari, near the areas dedicated to this cultivation. The country is famous for the presence of some very beautiful monuments such as Palazzo Biscari, which is on a promontory that dominates the whole town and is completely built in Baroque style. It is also worth a visit Bobbin Museum, given that it is one of the typical productions of the area, which began in the 20s, at the behest of Baroness Angelina Auteri who hoped in this way to improve the lives of the women of the village.

What to do during the Asparagus Festival in Mirabella Imbaccari

The program of events scheduled during the asparagus festival in Mirabella Imbaccari is truly very rich and obviously includes many tastings of dishes based on asparagus, a very versatile ingredient. Furthermore, guided tours of the vegetable cultivation are planned, to understand the innovative techniques that allow its luxuriant growth even out of season and workshops on various topics related to asparagus.

Since this is an event that also aims to promote the territory of the municipality, there is no shortage of guided tours of the main monuments of Mirabella Imbaccari as well as, the Mother Church dedicated to Our Lady of Grace. At the end of the evenings, there are musical shows and cabaret.

How to get to Mirabella Imbaccari

To reach with your own auto Mirabella Imbaccari and take part in the asparagus festival, from Catania it is necessary to take the SS417 while from Palermo the reference road is the A19 after which you must continue on the E932. Those who, however, move from Messina, will have to take the A18 and immediately after continue on the SS147.

Mirabella Imbaccari does not have its own train station, which has been closed for some time, but those who wish to reach it on the train they can refer to the stations of Caltagirone, Grammichele or Dittaino, which are the closest ones.

Finally, the lines of local buses guaranteed by AST and Sais Autolinee.