CicerchiaFest

The Iblei Chickling Vetch Festival

CicerchiaFest is the food and wine event that transforms the village of Licodia Eubea, in the province of Catania, into a grand open-air festival dedicated to one of Sicily's oldest legumes: the Iblei chickling vetch. A minor legume, cultivated for centuries on the Iblei plateau, it was saved from extinction thanks to the dedication of producers, researchers, and enthusiasts. Today, it is a Slow Food Ark of Taste Presidium and a symbol of agricultural biodiversity that must be protected.

From legume to patacò

In Licodia Eubea, the chickling vetch is primarily used in the form of flour, known as patacò, which is used to prepare numerous traditional hot and cold dishes of the Iblei rural culture. During the festival, visitors can discover these flavors through food areas, guided tastings, and show cooking sessions that bridge the gap between popular cuisine and contemporary taste.

Three days of taste, culture, and tradition

The program unfolds along Corso Umberto I and in the squares of the historic center, including Piazza Garibaldi and Piazza Papa Giovanni XXIII. The days alternate between moments of taste and culture:

• Tastings and taste workshops dedicated to chickling vetch, oils, cheeses, and local products;
• Show cooking and artisanal and food markets;
• Guided excursions in the village and along the Ancient Sicilian Transversal route, with e-bike tours and visits to farms;
• Conferences and round tables on biodiversity, inland areas, and the promotion of local production;
• Street performer shows, circus acts, live music, and DJ sets to liven up the evenings.

Local products

Beyond the chickling vetch and patacò, CicerchiaFest is a showcase for the excellence of Eastern Sicily: the Licodia Eubea nougat, Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG wine, Monti Iblei PDO olive oil, and local meats, cheeses, and ricotta. A festival that tells the story of a territory suspended between Catania and Ragusa.

A human-scale event

Organized by the Strade degli Iblei Association together with the Slow Food Community for the promotion of chickling vetch, Slow Food Sicily, and under the patronage of the Municipality of Licodia Eubea, CicerchiaFest is much more than a food festival: it is an experience that weaves together gastronomy, music, traditions, and landscape in the heart of the province of Catania, Sicily.