Baronial Wedding and International Festival of the Worlds

Petralia Soprana's historic Ferragosto

Perched at over 1,000 meters in the heart of the Madonie Park, in the province of Palermo, Petralia Soprana is officially listed among the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy. Every Ferragosto, the town transforms into an open-air stage for one of inland Sicily's most cherished events: the Baronial Wedding, accompanied by the International Festival of the Worlds and a grand Gastronomic Day. It is a multifaceted event that weaves together historical memory, folk traditions, and international hospitality, drawing visitors from across the entire region to this Madonie village.

The Baronial Wedding: an 18th-century re-enactment

The heart of the event is the 18th-century costume re-enactment of the wedding celebrated on August 15, 1700, between Donna Catarina Sgadari and Don Giuseppe Di Maria. The wedding procession, organized by the Stendardieri Association of Petralia Soprana, winds through the alleys of the historic center to Piazza del Duomo, where the Mother Church provides a natural backdrop for the ceremony. The re-enactment is preceded on the evening of August 14th by a romantic serenade to the couple, an elegant historical dance, and a performance by the local Stendardieri, who animate the village squares with their flags.

The International Festival of the Worlds

Alongside the re-enactment, the International Festival of the Worlds brings folk groups from various countries to Petralia Soprana; recent editions have featured performers from Poland, Serbia, Colombia, Mexico, and Portugal. The day concludes with a grand spectacle of folk music and dance, highlighted by the traditional Ballo della Cordella performed by the local folk group "U Rafu – Terra del Sale," a symbol of Madonie peasant identity.

The Gastronomic Day

On August 15th, starting in the morning, the Pro Loco organizes the Gastronomic Day, a non-stop tasting of typical Madonie products: appetizers, cured meats, cheeses, legumes, pasta dishes, meats, traditional desserts, and rustic breads, all paired with local wines and zero-mile specialties. It is a perfect opportunity to discover the mountain cuisine of inland Sicily within the evocative setting of the historic center.

A village to experience

Visiting Petralia Soprana during the Baronial Wedding means immersing yourself in a medieval village with breathtaking views of the Madonie, filled with churches, noble palaces, and stone-paved alleys. The event, deeply rooted in local tradition for many years, is one of the most authentic expressions of the Sicilian Ferragosto.