Pasta con le Sarde Festival and Feast of Saint Joseph

A spring festival of faith and tradition

In Caltabellotta, a village perched on the Sicani Mountains in the province of Agrigento, the Feast of Saint Joseph is one of the most anticipated events of the year. Celebrated every March 18th and 19th, the festival combines devotion to the patriarch saint with a popular celebration of spring and nature's rebirth. In Sicily, devotion to Saint Joseph is profound, and Caltabellotta expresses it through rituals, flavors, and community gestures passed down for generations.

The votive bread altars

The symbolic heart of the festival lies in the votive altars, set up in homes and public spaces throughout the village. These altars display intricately crafted bread shapes alongside traditional Sicilian culinary staples, excluding meat products in observance of the Lenten period. Particularly striking are the altars depicting the Seven Joys and Seven Sorrows of Saint Joseph, created in collaboration with the Roncalli Institute and local confraternities.

The procession of the statue

On March 19th, the main day of the feast, solemn masses are followed by a procession featuring the statue of the Saint. The parade departs from the Church of the Carmine and winds through the main streets and districts of the village—Randa, Pietra, Putieddi, San Paolo, and Via Fontanelle—before returning to the starting church, tracing a path that unites the different souls of the community.

The Pasta con le Sarde Festival

Upon the return of the procession, the Pasta con le Sarde Festival comes to life, celebrating the signature dish of the feast. Pasta with sardines—prepared with wild fennel and traditional fish—is listed among the Traditional Agri-food Products (PAT) by the Ministry of Agriculture. During the festival, tastings of typical Caltabellotta recipes are offered, prepared by local culinary experts. Other seasonal specialties, such as sfinci and Saint Joseph pastries, are also featured.

Organization and context

The festival is promoted by local confraternities—including the Confraternity of the Most Holy Crucifix and the Confraternity of Mary Most Holy of Miracles—and the Roncalli Institute, with the involvement of volunteers, parishes, and local associations. Located in the municipality of Caltabellotta, in the province of Agrigento and the Sicily Region, the event is a precious opportunity to discover a village rich in history, featuring churches, panoramic views, and a cuisine that tells centuries of tradition.