MedFest - Buccheri Medieval Festival

One of Sicily's greatest medieval re-enactments

The MedFest - Buccheri Medieval Festival is the flagship event of the small town of Buccheri, a village of just over a thousand inhabitants nestled in the Iblean Mountains, in the province of Syracuse, Sicily. For three days in midsummer, the historic center dresses up and becomes an authentic medieval village: 15th-century period costume processions, craft markets, taverns, roving performances, and early music turn the squares and alleys into open-air stages.

Origins and tradition

Established in the late 1990s, MedFest has spanned nearly thirty years of history, becoming a highly anticipated event for the entire south-eastern Sicily. Although rebuilt in Baroque style after the 1693 earthquake, Buccheri has preserved the layout of its medieval origins, with the Castello District and its staircases serving as a natural backdrop for the re-enactment. In 2011, the Buccheri Drummers organized the first medieval drum festival in Sicily, which is now held alongside MedFest as its opening night.

What to see at the festival

• Historical pageant with costumed characters, ladies, knights, and soldiers marching through the village starting from the Sant'Antonio Abate Staircase;
• Medieval Drum Festival, featuring drumming groups from all over Italy;
• performances by jugglers, historical fencers, fire-eaters, stilt-walkers, and street theater;
• medieval market with stalls selling handicrafts, clothing, armor, and local products;
• taverns and tabernae serving traditional Iblean dishes within the walls of the historic center;
• closing fireworks display and evening concerts.

The atmosphere

The Castello District, Piazza Roma, Piazza Toselli, and other areas of the village light up with torches, music, and scents, offering a journey through time that captivates both adults and children. The event, organized by the municipal administration of Buccheri with the support of local associations, offers free admission and is the perfect opportunity to discover one of the most fascinating villages in the Iblean Mountains.