Guastedda Cunzata Festival

The festival celebrating the Enna guastedda

The Guastedda Cunzata Festival takes place in Assoro, a small town in the province of Enna, in the heart of the most authentic Sicily. The undisputed star is the guastedda, the ancient stuffed focaccia typical of the Enna area: the dialect term cunzata literally means "seasoned," because this flatbread is filled and flavored before being baked. It is a product of peasant tradition, simple and generous, which tells the gastronomic history of this part of the island.

What is guastedda cunzata

The Enna guastedda likely has medieval origins and stands out from other Sicilian focaccias precisely because it is seasoned before cooking. The dough, made from durum wheat flour, water, and yeast, is rolled out and filled with local ingredients: in the most common version in the Enna area, tuma cheese and salami are used, but there are variations with primosale cheese and pork cracklings, or with salted ricotta, anchovies, and vegetables. Some traditional recipes even include elderflowers, which give the guastedda an unmistakable aroma.

A day of taste in the historic center

The festival brings Piazza Francesco Crispi to life, one of the squares in the historic village of Assoro, with food stalls dedicated to the preparation and tasting of the guastedda cunzata. It is an opportunity to discover a product little known outside the province of Enna, accompanied by the convivial atmosphere typical of Sicilian village festivals, amidst music, meetings, and the pleasure of tasting a dish of memory.

Assoro, village of the Erei Mountains

Assoro is one of the most evocative villages in the Sicilian hinterland: perched on the Erei Mountains at about 900 meters above sea level, it preserves a medieval structure and an ancient historical heritage. Founded by the Sicels, according to the historian Diodorus Siculus, the ancient city was the only one on the island to support the powerful Syracuse. Visiting Assoro during the festival means combining the pleasure of the table with the discovery of a historic center rich in history, churches, and panoramic views of the Enna hinterland.