San Martino Palio - Barrel Race

The San Martino Palio in Castell'Umberto

Every year, on the weekend closest to November 11th, the day dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours, the village of Castell'Umberto, in the heart of the Nebrodi mountains in the province of Messina, comes alive with the San Martino Palio - Barrel Race. A folk festival that blends popular tradition, lighthearted competition, and the promotion of local products, drawing visitors from all over Sicily.

The Barrel Race

The heart of the festival is the Barrel Race, an adrenaline-fueled challenge where team members race to roll large barrels along an obstacle course, reaching the finish line in the shortest time possible. The race consists of qualifying rounds and a final, with teams arriving from various towns and cash prizes up for grabs. Alongside the official competition, the playful Administrators' Race takes place, featuring mayors and representatives from the local municipalities.

Tradition, Folklore, and Entertainment

The two-day event is enriched by historical pageants and performances by flag-wavers, as well as the evocative demonstration of the Lancio del Maiorchino, an ancient traditional Nebrodi game involving the rolling of the cheese wheel of the same name. There is no shortage of entertainment with show cooking, cabaret performances, and live music in the squares of the historic center.

The Flavors of the Nebrodi

Along the streets of the village, and particularly in Piazza IV Novembre, food stalls offer typical Nebrodi products: macaroni with pork sauce, frittuli, sausages, mushrooms, chestnuts, hazelnuts, and the bounty of the Sicilian autumn, accompanied by the vino novello (new wine) that tradition dictates must be the star of this time of year. Street food keeps visitors company throughout the weekend.

A Nebrodi Village to Discover

The event is also an opportunity to explore Castell'Umberto and its surroundings, from the ruins of the Byzantine castle of Castania to the Piano Collura Ecological Park, a natural area populated by deer and fallow deer. An appointment that unites celebration, local identity, and love for the Nebrodi territory.