Cannolo Fest

The festival that crowns the Sicilian cannolo

The Cannolo Fest is the grand celebration dedicated to Sicily's most famous dessert, hosted in Piana degli Albanesi, a charming Arbëreshë village in the Metropolitan City of Palermo. Along Viale Otto Marzo, the heart of the town transforms into a gourmet trail where pastry shops and master cannolo makers from across the island gather for two days entirely devoted to the cannolo, featuring tastings, shows, and cultural insights.

Why Piana degli Albanesi

Piana degli Albanesi is universally recognized as one of the true homes of the Sicilian cannolo. Here, the dessert stands out for its generous size and, above all, its fresh sheep's milk ricotta, prepared and scented on-site, which fills the crispy shell just before serving. Founded in the 15th century by Albanian communities fleeing the Ottoman advance, the village still preserves its language, Greek-Byzantine rite, and Arbëreshë traditions today: the cannolo festival thus becomes an opportunity to immerse yourself in a unique cultural identity in Sicily.

The formula and tastings

The Cannolo Fest offers the famous "4 cannoli + 1 free" deal, allowing visitors to taste and compare different interpretations of the dessert from various parts of the island, from Trapani to Messina, passing through Palermo, Enna, Bolognetta, and Santa Cristina Gela. Over twenty pastry shops participate in the event, accompanied by cooking shows from master pastry chefs such as Mauro Lo Faso, Gaetano Di Salvo, Rocco Vultaggio, Giovanni Tumminello, Giovanni Cappello, and Lillo Freni.

Talks, entertainment, and music

The program alternates gourmet moments with thematic talks on the cannolo as a quality brand and identity product, as well as cabaret shows, comedy performances, and musical evenings with DJ sets and after-parties that bring the village to life until late at night. One of the most anticipated events is the spectacular "Man vs Cannolo Competition", the challenge that rewards whoever can eat the largest cannolo.

An event supported by the territory

Conceived by Catanzaro & Partners and promoted in collaboration with the Municipality of Piana degli Albanesi, the Cannolo Fest is supported by the Regional Department of Agriculture of the Sicilian Region and the Palermo-Enna Chamber of Commerce. During the event, it is also possible to discover the village's heritage, with visits to the Municipal Villa, the Cathedral, the Museum of Arbëreshë Culture, and the Cannolo Museum, in an itinerary that weaves together food and wine, history, and the culture of the province of Palermo.