Hazelnut Festival

The San Piero Patti Hazelnut Festival

In the heart of the Nebrodi mountains, in the province of Messina, the village of San Piero Patti hosts an annual grand festival dedicated to the hazelnut, a staple product of this hilly, wooded landscape in northern Sicily. For an entire weekend, the streets of the historic center transform into a culinary trail: stalls, food stands, and tastings invite residents and visitors alike to discover every possible variation of this fruit, both sweet and savory.

A journey through hazelnut flavors

The hazelnut is the undisputed star. Sweet specialties include traditional hazelnut pastries, nougat, cookies, "zulli", brittle, chocolate-dipped treats, and hazelnut-topped gelato. On the savory side, visitors are often surprised by innovative hazelnut-filled arancine, pizza made with hazelnut flour, hazelnut bread, as well as lasagna, meat rolls, pestos, creams, liqueurs, and local cheeses enhanced with chopped hazelnuts or hazelnut pesto. It is a gourmet journey that showcases the creativity of the village's producers and chefs.

Tradition, crafts, and music

Alongside the tastings, the event features stalls showcasing local products and handicrafts, as well as seminars and discussions dedicated to promoting the hazelnut and the Nebrodi territory. The evenings are enlivened by musical performances and Sicilian folk groups, filling the town squares and accompanying visitors as they stroll through the stalls.

A village to discover

The Hazelnut Festival is also the perfect opportunity to explore San Piero Patti, a town in the Metropolitan City of Messina nestled in the Nebrodi landscape, with its historic center, churches, and the warm hospitality of its inhabitants. The event is promoted by the 'Insieme per la città' association, which has always been committed to enhancing the town's flavors and traditions, with the support of the 'Teresa Martino' Pro Loco and the local community.