In Arte il Cacao – Gastronomic Cultures in the Val di Noto
The cocoa and PGI Modica Chocolate festival in the Baroque heart of Modica Alta
About In Arte il Cacao
A festival dedicated to cocoa in the heart of Modica
In Arte il Cacao – Gastronomic Cultures in the Val di Noto is a festival that chronicles the long journey of cocoa, from the bean to PGI Modica Chocolate, the defining symbol of this Sicilian Baroque city. The event takes place in the evocative Pizzo Belvedere district in Modica Alta, part of the Municipality of Modica in the province of Ragusa, an area designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2002.
The San Giovanni staircase and the spaces of Palazzo San Giovanni become the stage for a widespread event that weaves together gastronomy, culture, art, and entertainment, bringing the alleys, squares, and panoramic terraces of the old town to life.
Chefs, masterclasses, and great voices of chocolate
The program brings together leading chefs and pastry chefs, including Accursio Craparo, Carmelo Chiaramonte, Gabriele Camiolo, Giorgio Abate, and a lectio magistralis by Corrado Assenza, master of Caffè Sicilia in Noto. The "Cocoa Nights" fine dining evenings on the terrace of Palazzo San Giovanni offer tasting journeys that combine haute cuisine, Val di Noto wines, and Modica chocolate.
There are numerous international talks and meetings with cocoa experts from Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica, ranging from Cacao of Excellence to Altromercato, to discuss biodiversity, supply chains, and the sustainability of cocoa worldwide.
Culture, music, and immersive installations
Alongside gastronomy, the festival hosts book presentations with authors such as Viola Ardone and Alberto Grandi, live concerts on the San Giovanni staircase, and the immersive installation "Ad Sidera", an audiovisual journey through the starry sky to be experienced with headsets and projections at Palazzo San Giovanni.
- Market Exhibition at Palazzo San Giovanni with bean-to-bar chocolates and food and wine excellence
- Street Food District on Via Pizzo with DJ sets and art installations
- Workshops and activities for children organized by the L'Arca Cooperative
- Bean to Bar Experience: guided tours of Modica's artisanal chocolate workshops
A new appointment for the Val di Noto
Established in 2026 as its first edition, In Arte il Cacao aims to become a recurring fixture in the Sicilian food and wine event calendar, capable of uniting the tradition of PGI Modica Chocolate with an international perspective on cocoa cultures. A festival that is both popular and sophisticated, transforming the Baroque alleys of Modica into a vast, open-air laboratory of flavors, knowledge, and beauty.
In Arte il Cacao — edition 2026
2026 Edition – The Premiere
The inaugural edition of In Arte il Cacao was held in Modica Alta from April 30 to May 3, 2026, recording high public participation in the Baroque alleys of the Pizzo Belvedere district.
Highlights included: the opening on April 30 with talks on cocoa and the "Cocoa Nights" dinner on the terrace of Palazzo San Giovanni, the meeting with writer Viola Ardone, the lectio magistralis by Corrado Assenza on May 3, concerts on the San Giovanni staircase (including Antonio Modica on May 2), and the immersive installation "Ad Sidera".
- Chefs and pastry chefs: Accursio Craparo, Carmelo Chiaramonte, Gabriele Camiolo, Giorgio Abate
- International cocoa guests from Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica
- Bean-to-bar Market Exhibition, Street Food District, and children's workshops
Programme In Arte il Cacao 2026
2026 Program (highlights)
- April 30: Opening with "Bread and Chocolate" talk, cocoa masterclass, "Cocoa Nights" fine dining dinner, meeting with Viola Ardone, DJ set
- May 1: Children's workshops, "From Origin to Praline" masterclass with Giorgio Abate, talks on Nicaraguan and Costa Rican cocoa, Civica Street Band concert
- May 2: Art workshops and planetarium show for children, "Cocoa Stories from the World" talk, "Wine Experience" dinner, Antonio Modica concert
- May 3: "Franco Ruta: Cocoa as Heritage" talk with Corrado Assenza and Carmelo Chiaramonte, "Wine and Chocolate" masterclass, lectio magistralis by Corrado Assenza, "La Stracioccolatosa" theater show
Daily activities: Bean to Bar Experience, Market Exhibition at Palazzo San Giovanni, Street Food District on Via Pizzo, "Ad Sidera" immersive installation.
Highlights In Arte il Cacao 2026
Prices In Arte il Cacao 2026
Practical information — In Arte il Cacao
How to get there
Modica can be reached by car via the SS115; the festival takes place in Modica Alta, in the Pizzo Belvedere district. During the event, a shuttle service runs from 5:00 PM to 12:00 AM from Piazzale Falcone Borsellino to Piazza Santa Teresa (followed by a 10-minute walk). An Enjoy Barocco golf cart service is also available upon reservation. By train, Modica station is connected to the Sicilian regional network.
Admission and tickets
Admission to the main events, the Market Exhibition, the Street Food District, and the children's art workshops is free. The "Cocoa Nights" fine dining dinners (€60 for the chef's banquet, €45 for the Wine Experience), the "Ad Sidera" immersive installation (€18 full price, €15 reduced), and some workshops (€5) require a fee. Full program and tickets available at inarteilcacao.it.
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Where does it take place — In Arte il Cacao
Palazzo San Giovanni e scalinata di San Giovanni
Quartiere Pizzo Belvedere, Modica Alta, 97015 Modica