Sapori e Tradizioni Festival

A rural festival in the hills of Spadafora

Sapori e Tradizioni is the food and wine festival that brings the village of San Martino to life every year at the beginning of November. An ancient hamlet of the municipality of Spadafora, in the province of Messina (Sicily), it sits at about 245 meters above sea level. Offering a panoramic view of the hills overlooking the Tyrrhenian coast, San Martino is the oldest inhabited area in the municipality. The event takes place around Piazza Santa Colomba and through the village streets, coinciding with the celebrations for the patron saint, Saint Martin.

A journey through the flavors of rural Sicily

The event was created to promote local products and the rural culture of the Messina area. Numerous stalls are set up along the village streets, offering visitors the chance to taste local specialties prepared according to old family recipes.

• Tuma and ricotta cheese, with demonstrations of traditional milk processing methods
• Traditional homemade macaroni
• Sausage sandwiches
• Roasted chestnuts and fried dough
• Mostarda, traditional sweets, and new wine

Traditions, crafts, and folklore

Beyond the culinary delights, "Sapori e Tradizioni" offers a journey into the town's memory: photography exhibitions dedicated to the history and treasures of the parish, displays of local crafts and mycology, and a rediscovery of ancient trades. Over the years, the village has hosted processions, children's entertainment, vintage motorcycle rallies, and, of course, performances by street artists and folk groups in traditional costumes, who accompany visitors as they wander between the stalls.

A local event

The festival is organized by the 11 Novembre Association, in collaboration with the Saints Giuseppe and Martino parish and with the support of the Municipality of Spadafora. It is deeply linked to the feast of Saint Martin, which falls on November 11th. It is a free, family-friendly event that attracts visitors from neighboring towns and breathes new life into a village with ancient origins, already mentioned in a register of Emperor Frederick II.