La Cinisara
Expos, food, workshops, and a trade fair dedicated to the "Black Queen of Sicily"
Edition 2026 not confirmed to date
This edition has not been confirmed by the organiser to date. We recommend checking before going.
About La Cinisara
La Cinisara: Celebrating the "Black Queen of Sicily"
La Cinisara is a major event in Cinisi, within the Metropolitan City of Palermo, that celebrates the Cinisara cow, one of the most distinctive and rare native cattle breeds in Western Sicily. Nicknamed the "Black Queen of Sicily" for its dark coat and long horns, this breed is the heart of an event that blends flavor, science, and tradition, transforming the town's historic center into a vibrant stage for expos, food, workshops, and a trade fair.
A Breed Worth Preserving
The Cinisara is an ancient breed, documented in Sicily for centuries and officially recognized in 1995. Its milk is the source of iconic local products such as caciocavallo, vastedda, ricotta, and mozzarella, all of which embody sustainable livestock farming deeply rooted in the landscapes of the Palermo province. The festival highlights this heritage, offering residents and visitors the chance to meet the breeders, cheesemakers, and producers who safeguard these traditions.
Flavor, Culture, and Trade
The event spans several days across the town's squares and streets, featuring a rich and varied program:
- Cinisara Cattle Trade Fair: The main exhibition of livestock and breeding farms, dedicated to the breed and the world of animal husbandry.
- Taste Area: Tastings of meat, cheeses, ricotta, fiordilatte gelato, cannoli, and other typical products made from Cinisara milk.
- Milking Demonstrations and Showcooking: Featuring Sicilian chefs and agri-food industry professionals.
- Conferences and Expert Talks: Events such as "La Cinisara, Cinisara Pride," featuring scholars, veterinarians, and producers, alongside book presentations on local traditions.
- Exhibitions, Craft Expos, and Shows: Thematic displays, video projections on pastoral culture, rallies, live music, family entertainment, and folk performances.
An Event for the Community
La Cinisara is more than just a gastronomic festival: it is an opportunity to reflect on the value of biodiversity and the identity of a town in the Palermo province that has chosen to champion a breed at risk of extinction. Through authentic flavors, convivial moments, and cultural insights, the event invites you to rediscover rural Sicily and its finest offerings.
La Cinisara — edition 2026
The Municipality of Cinisi is preparing a new edition of La Cinisara, the festival dedicated to the Cinisara cow, the "Black Queen of Sicily." The dates and the detailed program for the 2026 edition have not yet been made official: as per tradition, the event is expected in September, featuring a trade fair, tastings of typical products made from Cinisara milk, demonstrations, conferences, and shows. Information will be updated as soon as it is released by the organizers.
Prices La Cinisara 2026
Practical information — La Cinisara
Getting There
Cinisi is located in the Metropolitan City of Palermo, just a few kilometers from the Falcone-Borsellino Airport in Punta Raisi. By car, it is accessible via the A29 Palermo-Mazara del Vallo motorway (Cinisi-Terrasini exit); by train, the Cinisi-Terrasini station is served by the Palermo-Trapani line.
Admission
Access to the festival is free. Some activities, such as workshops and guided tastings, may require on-site registration or have limited availability.
Tips
The events take place primarily in the historic center, between Corso Umberto I and Piazza Vittorio Emanuele Orlando, while the trade fair is held in the Contrada Piano Napoli area. We recommend checking the updated program for times and locations of individual events.
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Where does it take place — La Cinisara
Corso Umberto I e Piazza Vittorio Emanuele Orlando