Borghi dei Tesori Fest

A widespread festival bringing Sicilian villages to life

Borghi dei Tesori Fest is an initiative promoted by the Le Vie dei Tesori Foundation in partnership with the Borghi dei Tesori association. Over three weekends in May, it transforms dozens of small Sicilian towns into a vast open-air museum. Churches, castles, noble palaces, natural sites, workshops, and symbolic locations are opened to the public and brought to life by young local guides—contemporary storytellers dedicated to sharing the memory of a territory that is often overlooked. Alongside guided tours, the festival offers walks, gastronomic experiences, craft workshops, and theatrical routes for a slow, immersive journey through the island's hinterland.

Prizzi, the village of the Sicani Mountains

Among the participating towns is Prizzi, an ancient village perched in the Sicani Mountains in the province of Palermo, which archaeologists identify with the ancient city of Hippana. The town retains its original Arab-influenced layout: narrow, dead-end streets, steep stairways, the characteristic 'muntateddi', small courtyards, open squares, and stone arches. During the festival, a guided walk leads visitors through these alleys, sharing stories of daily life, architecture, and the hidden history of the old town.

The Ballo dei Diavoli and local traditions

Prizzi is best known for the Ballo dei Diavoli, one of the most fascinating and unique historical re-enactments in Sicily. Every Easter Sunday since 1711, the village has staged the eternal struggle between good and evil, with the Devils and Death chasing the inhabitants. The costumes are still handmade and passed down from father to son, with every family involved in the storytelling. The festival is a perfect opportunity to discover the roots of this tradition outside the Easter period, alongside the town's churches, palaces, and iconic sites.

A recognition for village regeneration

Prizzi, along with Bisacquino, received the Borghi dei Tesori 2026 Award for its projects aimed at enhancing and regenerating the historic center. With the association's prize, the municipality will be able to restore the iconic murals created in 1989 at Spiazzo Sparacio, a spot deeply cherished by the locals. This confirms that the festival is not merely a tourist event, but a concrete tool for revitalizing the small towns of inland Sicily.