Donnalucata Cuttlefish Festival

The festival of the black sea in Donnalucata

The Donnalucata Cuttlefish Festival is one of the most cherished gastronomic events on the Iblean coast. It takes place in the Donnalucata small harbor, a charming seaside village in the municipality of Scicli, in the province of Ragusa, in the heart of southeastern Sicily. Here, the cuttlefish is not just a seafood product: it is a symbol of identity, linked to the tradition of fishermen who have returned to the small port with their fresh catch for generations.

Cuttlefish in all its forms

For three days, food stalls set up along the village turn the cuttlefish into the absolute star of the table. The dishes prepared by local chefs from the Ragusa area range from classic to creative:

• Spaghetti with cuttlefish ink, the iconic dish of Sicilian maritime cuisine
• Cuttlefish ink arancine, a crispy tribute to the island's street food
• Roasted and stuffed cuttlefish, served as a seafood main course
• Seafood salad and other appetizers from the harbor

Over the years, the event has also offered delicious and original reinterpretations, such as the cuttlefish ink cannolo, testifying to the creativity of a cuisine that starts from tradition to surprise.

Festival and Cavalcata di San Giuseppe

The Cuttlefish Festival is held in conjunction with the Donnalucata Cavalcata di San Giuseppe, one of the oldest and most evocative religious and folkloric re-enactments in the Scicli area. While horses richly adorned with flower mantles parade through the streets of the village, the gastronomic festival comes alive around the harbor, in a unique blend of popular devotion, tradition, and sea flavors.

A village with ancient roots

Donnalucata, a hamlet just a few kilometers from Scicli, holds deep historical roots: according to tradition, in 1091, Count Roger of Hauteville defeated the Saracens with the intervention of the Madonna delle Milizie. Around the sanctuary and a coastal tower, the seaside village that today hosts the festival developed over the centuries. Visiting the event therefore means discovering not only a gastronomic excellence but also an authentic corner of Baroque Sicily, a stone's throw from the UNESCO heritage of the Val di Noto.

Markets and atmosphere

Alongside the food stalls, the festival offers markets featuring local products and handicrafts and entertainment moments that enliven the seafront throughout the weekend. The event is organized by the Sport and Food association and attracts visitors from all over southeastern Sicily, also thanks to the charitable dimension that accompanies some editions.