Saint Martin's Feast and Mostarda Festival

A Saint Martin's Feast with an Etna flair

The Saint Martin's Feast and Mostarda Festival is one of the most beloved autumn events in Mascalucia, a town of over thirty thousand residents perched on the southern slopes of Mount Etna, in the Metropolitan City of Catania, Sicily. Organized by the Pro Loco with the support of the Municipality and local associations, the event transforms the historic center for an entire November weekend into a journey of flavors, music, and tradition.

New wine, chestnuts, and mostarda

The feast of Saint Martin, following the famous saying "at Saint Martin's, every must becomes wine," has always been linked to the tasting of the first new wine. In Mascalucia, this tradition runs deep: in the past, the town excelled in winemaking, and the festival attracted tourists, curious visitors, and traders of grapes and must. Today, the squares are still filled with food stalls where you can savor chestnuts, local wine, and the famous mostarda, a traditional sweet made from cooked grape must that gives the festival its name.

The procession of Saint Martin and the Teste di Burgio

The most anticipated moment is the procession of Saint Martin on horseback, accompanied by the striking "Teste di Burgio": four figures recalling the iconography of Sicilian Moor's heads. The parade starts from the Mother Church and travels along Via Etnea to Piazza Umberto I, in an atmosphere of great popular participation. The program is completed by a theatrical performance dedicated to the life of Saint Martin of Tours, famous for the episode of sharing his cloak with a beggar.

Market, music, and vintage cars

• Food area with traditional Sicilian products in Piazza Chiesa Madre and Piazza San Vito
• Artisan market featuring handmade goods and local products
• Performances by folk singers and traditional Sicilian music
• Vintage car parade with the Alfa Romeo Club and awards for the rarest vehicles
• Tastings of new wine, roasted chestnuts, and mostarda

A local Mascalucia tradition

More than just a festival, the Saint Martin's Feast represents a moment of collective identity for Mascalucia, where the community gathers around the flavors of autumn and customs passed down from generation to generation. Admission to the events in the squares is free, making the festival accessible to families and visitors from across the province of Catania.