1st Nebrodi Hazelnut Festival

The Nebrodi Hazelnut Festival

For the first time, Tortorici—a small mountain town in the province of Messina known as the "City of Hazelnuts"—is dedicating a full-scale festival to the fruit that has defined its identity and economy for centuries. The Nebrodi Hazelnut Festival was created to showcase one of the products that best defines this corner of Sicily, building on the legacy of the traditional Hazelnut Feast and expanding it into an event capable of attracting visitors from across the island.

Tortorici, the City of Hazelnuts

Nestled in the heart of the Nebrodi Park, Tortorici boasts a tradition of hazelnut cultivation dating back to the 16th century. It intensified in the early 20th century when phylloxera destroyed local vineyards, prompting farmers to convert their land into hazelnut groves. Today, the Nebrodi Hazelnut is a recognized excellence, the result of a supply chain that weaves together landscape, traditional farming knowledge, and gastronomy.

Tastings and Cooking Shows

The festival puts cuisine center stage: throughout the event, local producers and restaurateurs offer guided tastings and cooking shows where the hazelnut takes center stage in appetizers, fresh pasta, main courses, and traditional desserts, from cannoli to gelato and granita. Cooking shows with chefs and pastry masters demonstrate gourmet recipes and typical Sicilian preparations to the public.

Culture, Music, and Children

Alongside the food, the program includes conferences dedicated to the future of the supply chain, musical performances, cabaret, and entertainment for children. During the weekends, there are free visits to local museums, including the Ethno-Anthropological Museum, the Ento-photographic Museum, and the unique Bell Museum, to discover the history and craftsmanship of the area.

An Event for the Nebrodi

Organized by the Municipality of Tortorici in collaboration with the Pro Loco and supported by the Regional Department of Agriculture, the festival serves as a showcase for inland Sicily and its typical products. It is a wonderful opportunity to discover an authentic village in the Nebrodi mountains, its traditions, and the unmistakable taste of its hazelnuts.