Borghi dei Tesori Fest

The widespread festival of small Sicilian villages

The Borghi dei Tesori Fest is the 'village-scale' version of the famous Le Vie dei Tesori festival: a large, widespread event that lights up dozens of small Sicilian towns over three weekends in May. Promoted by the Fondazione Le Vie dei Tesori, the 2026 edition involves twenty-five villages. Among them, Petralia Soprana (Province of Palermo, Sicily) holds a special place: awarded the title of 'Most Beautiful Village in Italy' in 2018, it is the highest inhabited center in the Madonie, perched at over a thousand meters with a view that spans the entire mountain range.

What to visit in Petralia Soprana

During the festival weekend, the village unveils places that usually remain closed or are rarely accessible. Highlights of the tours include:

• Palazzo Pottino, one of the most prestigious noble residences in the village, featuring frescoed halls;
• the Town Hall (Palazzo Comunale), housed in an ancient Carmelite convent in Piazza del Popolo;
• the Civic Museum of Memory and the Present, dedicated to artifacts of rural civilization;
• the Frate Umile Library, hosted in a 17th-century monastery;
• Villa Sgadari, home to the Museum of the Sicilian Cart and Puppet, a treasure trove of local artisanal traditions.

Experiences, walks, and trekking

Alongside the tours, the festival offers themed walks and slow-paced trekking around the village, designed for those who want to enjoy the Madonie landscapes without haste, as well as narrated itineraries that recount the history and figures linked to Petralia Soprana. There are also events dedicated to artisanal traditions and the town's connection to its cultural memory.

A heritage to be rediscovered

The goal of the Borghi dei Tesori Fest is to enhance the heritage of small towns in the Sicilian hinterland, which are too often off the beaten track of mass tourism. For Petralia Soprana, it is an opportunity to show visitors its Madonie identity, made of stone, narrow alleys, noble palaces, and a panorama that alone is worth the trip. The Municipality's participation has become a consolidated tradition, edition after edition.