Mediterranean Festival

The summer festival hub of the Iblei

The Mediterranean Festival is the flagship event of Canicattini Bagni, a small town in the Province of Syracuse, in the heart of the Iblei mountains, which proudly defines itself as the "City of Liberty and Music". Running uninterrupted since 2003, it is a vast cultural container that spreads dozens of free events across three months—from July to late September—including music, theatre, dance, art, sports, literary meetings, solidarity and social inclusion initiatives, popular traditions, and gastronomic festivals.

Historical sections

The programme brings together several established events under one banner:

• Canicattini Jazz Festival, one of the longest-running jazz festivals in the Syracuse area;
• "M° Nino Cirinnà" Band Gathering, dedicated to brass bands and the town's local band tradition;
• Refugee Festival, expressing the festival's commitment to themes of peace, hospitality, and social inclusion;
• Palio of San Michele, featuring a historical pageant and games between the districts, linked to the feast of the patron saint, Saint Michael the Archangel, which concludes the season.

Music, theatre, and culture

The programme alternates concerts by nationally and Sicilian-renowned artists with performances by local amateur theatre companies such as "Le Maschere" and "Il Sipario", dance performances, book presentations at the TEMPO Museum, exhibitions, and initiatives like "Museum under the Stars" and tours of the Liberty-style architecture that defines the town. There are also moments designed for families, such as donkey walks and games between the neighbourhoods.

The flavours of the Iblei

A fundamental part of the festival are the food festivals that highlight typical Iblean products: from pane cunzato to cavatieddi, from ricotta to skewers, as well as desserts and zero-kilometre products. The food and wine evenings, set up in the squares and streets of the historic centre, are among the most popular events and turn Canicattini Bagni into a delicious destination in the Syracuse hinterland.

An identity-driven event

More than just a summer calendar, the Mediterranean Festival is an identity project that brings culture, tradition, and civic engagement into dialogue, involving associations, schools, the Pro Loco, and the entire community of Canicattini Bagni and south-eastern Sicily.