Avola Tuna and Ghiotta Festival

A festival born from the culture of the tonnara

The Tuna and Ghiotta Festival is one of the most cherished food and wine events of the summer in Avola, in the province of Syracuse, in the heart of southeastern Sicily. The event takes place in the picturesque "Mare Vecchio" seaside village, behind the ancient tuna fishery, and evokes the stories and knowledge linked to tuna fishing, which was once one of the main activities of the Avola community.

The idea for the festival was born over twenty years ago thanks to Paolo Tiralongo, a passionate local fisherman and lover of the sea. After his passing, the event was dedicated to him and is carried on by his children and collaborators, who preserve its authentic and popular spirit.

The star flavors

The heart of the festival is naturally the tuna, cooked according to traditional maritime recipes. Among the most requested specialties:

• Tuna Ghiotta: strictly grilled, served with onions and accompanied by local wine;
• Grilled tuna and stewed tuna with onions, in its many variations;
• Bottarga, the precious product derived from tuna roe.

Along the streets of the village, stands are set up for tastings, alongside stalls selling gastronomic products, olive oils, and local crafts. In the busiest editions, about 600 kilograms of tuna were consumed during the event.

Music and seaside atmosphere

The festival evenings are enlivened by live musical performances that turn the village into an open-air stage, amidst the scent of the grill and the view of the sea. The simple and genuine formula, free admission, and the setting of the old tuna fishery make the festival a favorite among locals and the many tourists who reach the Syracuse coast every summer.

Avola and its sea

Organized by the Municipality of Avola together with the Tiralongo family, the festival is part of the town's rich summer calendar, also famous for its Pizzuta almond and its hexagonal urban layout. Participating in the Tuna Festival means immersing yourself in a living maritime tradition, discovering an authentic side of Sicily far from mass tourism circuits.