Ottobrando
The taste festivals in the highest village in Sicily
About Ottobrando
Ottobrando, an autumn of taste in Floresta
Ottobrando is the food and wine festival that transforms Floresta—the highest municipality in Sicily, situated at 1,275 metres in the Nebrodi Mountains, province of Messina—into the capital of autumn flavours every Sunday in October. It is an umbrella event that brings together several themed festivals under one name, each dedicated to a signature product of the Nebrodi region.
A different festival every Sunday
The charm of Ottobrando lies in its rotating format: every Sunday of the month highlights a different culinary star. Among the most anticipated events are the Vasola a Crucchittu Festival (the typical local beans grown at high altitude), the Nebrodi Black Pork Festival, the Mushroom Festival, and the historic Provola Cheese Festival, which reached its 47th edition in 2025. The Nebrodi provola, a Slow Food Presidium, is the true queen of the event: the famous "provola impiccata" (hanged provola), left to age in pairs, is the symbol of the dairy tradition of these mountains.
Flavours, markets, and tradition
Throughout the day, starting in the morning, the streets of Floresta's historic centre are filled with food stalls, local produce vendors, and handicrafts. Visitors can taste dishes from the Nebrodi cuisine, accompanied by market exhibitions, conferences, entertainment, street artists, and folk music. It is the perfect opportunity to discover the flavours and traditions of the Nebrodi and to explore one of the most evocative and scenic villages in the province of Messina.
Floresta and the Nebrodi Mountains
Nestled in the heart of the Nebrodi Park, Floresta owes its identity to its altitude and pastoral heritage: a cool climate, green pastures, and a centuries-old dairy tradition that has made its provola an excellent product. Ottobrando was created to celebrate these roots, attracting thousands of visitors every year from Messina and across Sicily. The event is organised by the Municipality of Floresta together with the local Pro Loco and regional associations.
Ottobrando — edition 2026
Ottobrando returns to Floresta in autumn 2026 with its Sundays dedicated to taste, from 4 to 25 October 2026. The formula remains the proven one: each Sunday of the month features a themed festival dedicated to a signature product of the Nebrodi region, including Nebrodi provola, black pork, mushrooms, and vasola beans. At the moment, the organisers have announced the dates but not yet the full programme for the 2026 edition, which will be released in the weeks preceding the event.
Prices Ottobrando 2026
Practical information — Ottobrando
How to get there
Floresta can be reached by car from the A20 Messina-Palermo motorway (take the Sant'Agata di Militello or Brolo exit) by heading up into the Nebrodi mountains, or via the SS116. The village is at an altitude of 1,275 metres: it is advisable to bring warm clothing in October.
When
Every Sunday in October, with stalls opening in the late morning. Free admission to the event; tastings are paid for at individual stalls.
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Where does it take place — Ottobrando
Centro storico di Floresta