International "Sciara dell'Etna" Award
The accolade that weaves together culture, memory, and the Etna territory
About Sciara dell'Etna Award
An award born from the lava stone of Mount Etna
The International "Sciara dell'Etna" Award is a cultural event held in the Etna region, with Giarre (Metropolitan City of Catania, Sicily) serving as one of the main hubs alongside neighboring Ionian coast towns such as Santa Venerina, Taormina, and Castelmola. The name refers to the sciara, the expanse of solidified lava stone that defines the landscape of Mount Etna: a symbol of the strength and identity of this land.
The concept and organization
The award was conceived and promoted by journalist Gianvito De Salvo, who also serves as its artistic director, with the support of the Amici della Musica e dell'Arte Association. Over the years, the event has involved the UNESCO Clubs of Taormina Valle dell'Alcantara, d'Agrò, and Giarre-Riposto, the Sicilian Regional Assembly, and local municipalities, as well as the Giarre Hotel Management School, whose students handle hospitality, tastings, and the preparation of a signature dessert dedicated to the award.
What is celebrated
The ceremony pays tribute to individuals and entities that have excelled in various fields: culture, science, research, communication, music, civic engagement, and community service. Past recipients include researchers, local administrators, law enforcement officials, artists, and singers. The award, crafted as a work of art using lava stone, highlights the profound bond between human excellence and the volcanic identity of the Ionian coast of Sicily.
Between art, territory, and gastronomy
Each edition complements the awards ceremony with a rich program: performances by polyphonic choirs, sopranos, historical dance groups, and flag-wavers, as well as conferences with agronomists and geologists discussing the unique features of the Etna region. Special attention is given to local products, the true agro-food gems of the Ionian Catania area.
A landmark for the region
More than just an awards ceremony, the "Sciara dell'Etna" has become a defining event for Giarre and the Etna municipalities, capable of uniting historical memory, the empowerment of new generations, and the promotion of the province of Catania.
Sciara dell'Etna Award — edition 2026
The fifth edition of the International "Sciara dell'Etna" Award was held over two evenings: May 21, 2026, at the Teatro Eliseo in Santa Venerina and May 22 at the Cine-Teatro Rex in Giarre. The chosen theme, "Verde Verdello," celebrated the Sicilian verdello lemon, a typical product harvested during the summer months thanks to specific cultivation techniques.
The edition, directed by journalist Gianvito De Salvo and promoted by the Amici della Musica e dell'Arte Association, saw the collaboration of the Giarre Hotel Management School, the municipalities of Santa Venerina and Giarre, the Presidency of the ARS, and the UNESCO Club. Alongside the awards, conferences were held with agronomists and geologists on the Etna territory, featuring musical performances and tastings prepared by the hotel school students, including the "Sciara dell'Etna" dessert.
Programme Sciara dell'Etna Award 2026
Thursday, May 21 — Teatro Eliseo, Santa Venerina
- Conference on the Etna territory and the cultivation of the verdello lemon, with contributions from agronomists and geologists
- Awards ceremony: recipients included Mayor Antonino Santo Raciti, the commanders of the Municipal Police of Santa Venerina, Giarre, and Milo, the Bersaglieri Association of Zafferana Etnea, and journalist Giuseppe Vecchio Vellini
- Musical performances and 19th-century dance
Friday, May 22 — Cine-Teatro Rex, Giarre
- Awards: recipients included the Italian Air Force, the Carabinieri, the former commander of the Paternò Municipal Police La Spina, the Mayor of Milo Alfio Cosentino, and the Catania Fire Department Commander Massimo Alfredo Lauria
- Official visit to Giarre by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Catania, Luigi Renna
- Tribute to the memory of Lea Barbagallo
- Ionia Polyphonic Choir directed by Giuseppe Cristaudo, soprano Pina Rapisarda (Ave Maria), the Danzando l'800 dance group, and the Flag-wavers of the Rione Panzera of Motta Sant'Anastasia
- Tastings of local products and the "Sciara dell'Etna" dessert by the Giarre Hotel Management School
Highlights Sciara dell'Etna Award 2026
Prices Sciara dell'Etna Award 2026
Practical information — Sciara dell'Etna Award
Location
Ceremonies are held in theaters and institutional halls throughout the Etna region, particularly in Giarre (Cine-Teatro Rex, Sala degli Specchi of the Town Hall) and Santa Venerina (Teatro Eliseo), in the Metropolitan City of Catania.
How to get there
Giarre is easily accessible by car via the A18 Messina-Catania motorway (Giarre exit) and by train via the Giarre-Riposto station on the Ionian railway line. The nearest airport is Catania-Fontanarossa, approximately 40 km away.
Admission
Admission to the ceremonies is generally free. For updated information on dates and accreditation, it is recommended to follow the channels of the Amici della Musica e dell'Arte Association and the involved municipalities.
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Noticed an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every proposal is verified by our team before publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Where does it take place — Sciara dell'Etna Award
Cine-Teatro Rex