Siccagno Tomato Festival

The festival of Valledolmo's red gold

In the heart of inland Sicily, where the hills of Valledolmo stretch out at the foot of the Madonie mountains in the province of Palermo, the Siccagno Tomato Festival takes place every September. It is one of the town's most cherished events, drawing visitors from across the province to celebrate what the locals proudly call their "red gold".

The siccagno tomato, a unique product

The siccagno tomato is the quintessential product of Valledolmo. Its name comes from the fact that it is grown in open fields without any irrigation: it is the unique local climate and the natural humidity of the soil that nourish the plants. The result is a tomato with an intense red color, juicy flesh, and a sweet, concentrated flavor—low in water content but rich in antioxidants. From this fruit come the famous salsa and the precious concentrate known in the local dialect as astrattu, processed according to methods passed down through generations.

Tastings and local flavors

During the festival, the town squares fill with stalls where you can admire various tomato varieties and enjoy numerous dishes prepared with the tomato and its derivatives. Tastings of salsa and astrattu are paired with other local products:

• local olives and cheeses
• pizza and baked specialties
• the traditional spaghetti feast that concludes the day

Faith and tradition: Maria SS. della Purità

The Siccagno Tomato Festival is more than just a gastronomic event: it takes place as part of the festivities in honor of Maria Santissima della Purità, the patron saint celebrated on the third Sunday of September. The organization is managed by the Confraternity of Maria Santissima della Purità, which has guarded this tradition for over a century. The festival culminates late on Sunday afternoon with the solemn procession of the Madonna's statue through the streets of the town, a moment of deep popular participation that unites religious devotion and community identity.

An opportunity to discover Valledolmo

Visiting the festival also means discovering Valledolmo and the Palermo hinterland, with its rural culture, Madonie landscapes, and Sicilian hospitality. Exhibitions dedicated to traditional tomato-processing tools, vintage car rallies, live music, and popular games complete a program that tells the authentic story of this Sicilian village.