Fera di li Ficu

A fair with ancient roots

The Fera di li Ficu is one of the most cherished events in Santa Margherita di Belice, a town in the province of Agrigento, in the heart of western Sicily. Known in the local dialect as "firicedda", this autumn fair has roots in a centuries-old tradition once linked to the devotion to the Madonna dei Peccatori. Originally, it was the time when local families would stock up on sweet sun-dried figs and the many specialties made from figs, the signature fruit of the Belice countryside.

When and where it takes place

The event is held every year on the second and third Sunday of November, when the town comes alive with stalls and visitors. The heart of the fair is the characteristic San Giuseppe district, along Via Vivaldi, where the stands are set up. Strolling among the stalls, you can breathe in an authentic atmosphere where local craftsmanship blends with the aromas and flavors of seasonal products.

The flavors of the Belice Valley

The absolute stars remain figs in all their forms: dried, in sweets, and as preserves. Alongside these, the fair is a showcase for the region's typical products, from the renowned Vastedda della Valle del Belice PDO cheese to extra virgin olive oil, as well as wines and traditional Sicilian sweets.

• Sun-dried figs and fig-based products
• Typical cheeses, including Vastedda della Valle del Belice PDO
• Extra virgin olive oil, local wines, and preserves
• Stalls featuring crafts and seasonal products

In the City of the Leopard

Experiencing the Fera di li Ficu also means discovering Santa Margherita di Belice, the "City of the Leopard". This is where the family of Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa owned the Palazzo Filangeri di Cutò, now home to the Leopard Museum, a place that inspired some of the most famous pages of the novel. The village, marked and rebuilt after the 1968 Belice earthquake, preserves the memory of the Valley and welcomes visitors with its authentic identity.

The fair thus represents a perfect opportunity to combine traditional gastronomy with the discovery of the historical and literary heritage of this corner of the Agrigento area.