Ancient Grains and Bread Festival

A festival dedicated to bread and ancient grains

The Ancient Grains and Bread Festival is one of the most cherished events in Calamonaci, a small town in the province of Agrigento overlooking the Verdura Valley, in the heart of inland Sicily. Launched in 2022, the event has grown with each edition to become a benchmark for promoting Sicilian ancient grains and the art of traditional baking.

The event is promoted by the Municipality of Calamonaci in collaboration with the Sipario4 Cultural Association, which handles the artistic direction, with the patronage of the Sicilian Region. The common thread is the rediscovery of an agricultural and gastronomic heritage that, until a few decades ago, defined the lives of rural Sicilian communities: harvesting, threshing, and processing grain were moments of collective work and celebration.

Conferences, workshops, and tastings

The program alternates between cultural insights and pure entertainment. Recurring highlights include conferences dedicated to the value of ancient grains as a healthy and sustainable resource and the regeneration of small villages, baking workshops for children ("Hands in the Dough") led by master bakers, and tastings of baked goods and traditional dishes prepared with ancient grain flours.

• Talks and meetings on the theme of ancient grains and village identity
• Baking workshops for children
• Cooking shows with local chefs
• Free tastings of bread and local products in the square
• Musical performances, cabaret, and evening entertainment

Performances and village atmosphere

The festival evenings bring Piazza San Vincenzo Ferreri to life with concerts, street artist performances, fire shows, and vintage car and motorcycle rallies. The event attracts not only the residents of Calamonaci but also many emigrants returning to the village during the summer, helping to strengthen the community's bond with its roots.

Visiting the Ancient Grains and Bread Festival means discovering an authentic corner of rural Sicily, where bread is not just food but a story made of culture, values, and shared traditions.