Genius Loci of Olive Oil and Food & Wine of Pantelleria

Pantelleria celebrates its Genius Loci

In the heart of the Mediterranean, suspended between Sicily and the African coast, the island of Pantelleria has launched the first edition of the Genius Loci of Olive Oil and Food & Wine, an event focusing on the agri-food, landscape, and cultural identity of the local community. The day, hosted at the Qalea Hotel in the Suvaki area, is encapsulated by an evocative theme: «Taste as identity, wind as spirit, land as memory».

An island telling its story through food

The initiative interprets food and wine as a true cultural infrastructure of the territory. Pantelleria preserves products that have become symbols of the Mediterranean: the caper, the Zibibbo grape cultivated using the 'alberello' (bush) method (a practice recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site), Passito wine, and extra virgin olive oil extracted from olives grown close to the ground to withstand the wind. The day is designed to enhance traditional knowledge, the rural landscape, and the material and immaterial heritage of the island.

The day's itinerary

The morning, from 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM, features the institutional opening followed by the «Taste Trail», with show cooking and a local brunch dedicated to regional excellence. In the afternoon, at 5:30 PM, the Public Hearing for the recognition of the Municipal Denomination (De.Co.) takes place, marking the start of Pantelleria's entry into the National Network of Genius Loci Villages, coordinated by Nino Sutera. The evening concludes with the «Soul of Taste» dinner.

Guardian of Territorial Identity

With this first edition, Pantelleria has been recognized as «Guardian of Territorial Identity», officially entering the path to becoming a Genius Loci De.Co. Village. The event was attended by institutions and local leaders, from Mayor Fabrizio D'Ancona to Deputy Mayor Adele Pineda, Agriculture Councilor Massimo Bonì, and National Park Director Carmine Vitale. Italo Cucci, president of the Pantelleria Island National Park, was awarded the title of «Ambassador of Territorial Identity».

A network of partners for the territory

The initiative stems from the collaboration between the Municipality of Pantelleria, the Agriculture Department of the Sicilian Region, the Pantelleria Island National Park, the Pro Loco of Pantelleria, the IDIMED network, and the National Network of Genius Loci De.Co. Villages. A choral project that places the island, in the province of Trapani, within the broader debate on the identity value of Mediterranean cuisine and the candidacy of Italian cuisine as a UNESCO heritage site.