Mitilugghia Festival
The ancient flavors of Iblean cuisine in Acate
Edition 2026 not confirmed to date
This edition has not been confirmed by the organiser to date. We recommend checking before going.
About Mitilugghia Festival
The Mitilugghia Festival in Acate
In the heart of southeastern Sicily, in Acate—a small town in the province of Ragusa tucked away in the Iblei hills—the Mitilugghia Festival returns every summer. It is one of the most heartfelt and identity-defining gastronomic celebrations in the region. The event is dedicated to a humble yet extraordinarily delicious dish, a symbol of local peasant cooking and an integral part of the town's collective memory.
What is a mitilugghia?
The mitilugghia is a typical Iblean dish of ancient Arab origin. It is made with a soft dough of durum wheat semolina, sugar, extra virgin olive oil, yeast, salt, and water. Once risen, the dough is divided into small discs about ten centimeters in diameter and fried in hot extra virgin olive oil, then sprinkled with oregano and salt. Traditionally, the mitilugghia is served hot, accompanied by black olives and sun-dried tomatoes. During the festival, the dish is offered in many variations, including a sweet version—fried bread dough dusted with sugar, which is particularly loved by children.
A village festival atmosphere
The Mitilugghia Festival is much more than just a tasting event: it is a gathering place for the entire Acate community. Among the stalls set up for the occasion, the air fills with the scent of frying dough and local products, while folk music and conviviality recreate the authentic atmosphere of Sicilian summer festivals. It is the moment when this Iblean village opens its doors to residents and visitors alike, offering a genuine taste of its culinary roots.
Acate and the Iblean territory
Acate stands in an area rich in history and rural traditions, where the culture of grain and olive oil has shaped daily life and cuisine for centuries. The mitilugghia is a living testament to this: a simple dish born from necessity and popular ingenuity, which is now celebrated with pride. The festival thus represents a small journey into the food and wine heritage of the province of Ragusa and the entire Iblean region.
The dates for the 2026 edition have not yet been officially announced. The festival is traditionally held in the summer, around the month of July.
Mitilugghia Festival — edition 2026
The official dates for the 2026 edition of the Mitilugghia Festival in Acate have not yet been announced. The festival traditionally takes place in the summer, around the second half of July, with food stalls dedicated to mitilugghia prepared according to the traditional recipe and its variations, including the sweet version. The detailed program and confirmation of dates will be communicated by the Municipality of Acate closer to the event.
Practical information — Mitilugghia Festival
Location
The Mitilugghia Festival takes place in Acate, in the province of Ragusa (Sicily).
How to get there
By car: Acate can be reached via the SS115 and the provincial roads connecting Vittoria, Comiso, and Gela. By train: the nearest station is Vittoria, on the Iblean railway line, from where you can continue by car or bus. The reference airports are Comiso (Pio La Torre) and Catania-Fontanarossa.
Admission
Admission to the festival is free; tastings are paid for directly at the stalls.
Information
For updated dates and the program, we recommend checking with the Municipality of Acate.
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