Carlentini Ancient Flavours Festival
Traditional rural tastes in the heart of Carlentini
Edition 2026 not confirmed to date
This edition has not been confirmed by the organiser to date. We recommend checking before going.
About Ancient Flavours Festival
A celebration of ancient flavours in the heart of Sicily
The Carlentini Ancient Flavours Festival is one of the most cherished food and wine events in Carlentini, a town in the province of Syracuse overlooking the plain of Catania. Each year, between late summer and early autumn, the streets and squares of the town centre transform into a grand market of taste, dedicated to the humble, traditional rural cuisine passed down through generations of local families.
Traditional dishes
The heart of the festival lies in the traditional Carlentini street food, prepared and served in the square in the spirit of a popular feast. Specialties available for tasting include:
- Sfingi: fragrant fried dough topped with honey, sugar, or hazelnut cream
- Cavateddi with pork sauce: fresh pasta typical of the area
- Mostarda: served hot or dried, made from prickly pears or grape must
- Mustazzoli: traditional rural biscuits
- Cudduruni: the town's signature stuffed focaccia
- Sausage or meat sandwiches: the classic Sicilian street food
Alongside the food stalls, you will find displays featuring preserves, sweets, and other local rural specialties.
Shows, music, and atmosphere
The Ancient Flavours Festival is about more than just food: every edition features live music, shows, and entertainment, as well as activities for children, creating a festive atmosphere that brings the whole community together. The event, organised by the Immaculate Heart of Mary and Saint Anne Parish, is held for charity and traditionally takes place in Piazza Cavallotti, in the centre of Carlentini.
Carlentini and its culinary tradition
Situated on the hills overlooking the plain of Lentini in Sicily, Carlentini maintains a strong rural identity rooted in agriculture and livestock. The festival is the perfect opportunity to discover this gastronomic heritage and experience the hospitality of the Syracuse area, amidst the aromas of home cooking, ancient flavours, and the joyful spirit of the evenings that attract visitors from all the surrounding towns.
Ancient Flavours Festival — edition 2026
The Carlentini Ancient Flavours Festival returns in September 2026 to Carlentini, in the province of Syracuse. At the moment, the dates and the programme for the 2026 edition have not yet been made official by the organisers. The usual formula is confirmed: traditional Carlentini street food served in the square, rural specialty stalls, music, and shows, with a wide range of activities dedicated to families. The detailed programme will be published by the Immaculate Heart of Mary and Saint Anne Parish in the weeks leading up to the event.
Practical information — Ancient Flavours Festival
Location
The festival is held in Piazza Cavallotti, in the centre of Carlentini (SR).
How to get there
By car: Carlentini can be reached via the A18/A19 motorway and the SS114, exiting towards Lentini-Carlentini. By train: the Lentini-Carlentini station is served by the Catania-Siracusa line, just a few minutes from the centre. Nearest airport: Catania Fontanarossa, approximately 40 km away.
Admission
Access to the festival is free; tastings are paid for via tickets or directly at the stalls. The initiative is for charity.
Tips
The evenings begin in the late afternoon and continue until late at night: it is best to arrive early to avoid queues at the most popular stalls.
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Where does it take place — Ancient Flavours Festival
Piazza Cavallotti