Cavallaro Ancient Village Festival

A festival in the heart of the Arab village

The Cavallaro Ancient Village Festival is one of the most beloved events in the summer calendar of Gaggi, a small town in the province of Messina overlooking the Alcantara Valley, a short distance from Taormina and the Ionian Sea. The festival takes place in the Ancient Village of Cavallaro, a historic core of Arab origin located in the upper part of the town, about 300 meters from Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II.

Amidst paved alleys, stone houses, and medieval vistas, the event transforms this corner of Sicily for an entire September weekend into a widespread stage where tradition, cuisine, and culture intertwine. It is organized by the Associazione Amici del Borgo, which works every year to enhance the identity and historical memory of this place.

Flavors of Sicilian tradition

The true star of the festival is traditional popular food. Along the streets of the village, you will find local gastronomy stalls where you can taste typical dishes prepared according to old-fashioned recipes:

• Maccarruni cu ferru, fresh pasta hand-rolled with a classic knitting needle
• Sicilian cannoli with ricotta
• Crispeddi, traditional savory or sweet fritters
• And many other specialties from the Messina area

Crowning the evenings is a giant cake created by guest chefs, an unmissable moment highly anticipated by the public.

Crafts, music, and folklore

Alongside the gastronomy, the village hosts stalls of strictly made-in-Sicily crafts, featuring typical products and artistic creations from the area. The atmosphere is enlivened by Sixties and Eighties music and performances by folk groups that bring Sicilian dances and popular traditions back to life.

A village to discover

The festival is also an opportunity to visit the historical heritage of Cavallaro: the Church of Santa Maria SS. Annunziata (17th century), with its facade framed by stone and pink marble from Taormina, the Palazzo del Marchese di Schisò, and the Baronial Palace with its scenic pincer staircase. A heritage that tells the story of the centuries when the village, purchased in 1639, was one of the suburbs separated from Taormina.