Mandanici Olive Oil Festival

A festival that tells the story of Mandanici

The Mandanici Olive Oil Festival is the most cherished event in this small town in the province of Messina, Sicily, located at an altitude of about 417 meters among the olive trees of the Peloritani Mountains, in the Dinarini Valley overlooking the Ionian Riviera. Created to promote local extra virgin olive oil—prized for its characteristic golden-green color, intense aroma, and low acidity—the event has become a highly anticipated appointment that draws visitors from across the province and beyond.

The historic squares in celebration

For two days, the heart of the village comes alive: Piazza Duomo and Piazza Sant'Antonio Abate host food, wine, and craft stalls from local farmers, with extra virgin olive oil taking center stage alongside typical regional products. Among the Mandanici specialties, the handmade macaroni, local cheeses, and the traditional cuzzola—fried bread from the rural tradition—stand out.

Tastings, mill tours, and workshops

The program weaves together taste and culture. Visitors can participate in guided oil tastings and sample local products, take tours of the olive mill and the village, and watch artisanal demonstrations, such as the ancient craft of turning oil into soap. There are also workshops for children, introducing the little ones to olive culture and traditional trades.

• Food, wine, and agricultural product stalls
• Tastings of extra virgin olive oil and local specialties
• Guided tours of the village and the olive mill
• Artisanal demonstrations (soap making from oil)
• Workshops for children
• Folk performances, music, and cabaret

Folklore and popular tradition

The evenings are filled with folk performances by groups from the Ionian Riviera, popular music, and cabaret that bring joy to the squares. The festival is also an opportunity to discover the village's heritage: the Duomo di Santa Domenica, the Church of the Most Holy Trinity of Norman origin, and the Ethno-Anthropological Museum, which preserves the history of local rural life.

A village to discover

Visiting Mandanici during the Olive Oil Festival means immersing yourself in the authenticity of rural Sicily, far from mass tourism routes, in a hilly landscape dotted with olive groves that slope down toward the Ionian Sea. An experience that combines gastronomy, tradition, and the warm hospitality of a small community proud of its roots.