Tempu ri Capuna

A festival born from the sea

Tempu ri Capuna (Sicilian for "Mahi-mahi time") is the food and wine festival that brings the village of San Vito Lo Capo, in the province of Trapani, Sicily, to life every autumn. The festival was created to highlight the town's deep connection to the sea and the tradition of bluefish fishing, specifically the mahi-mahi—the "capone"—a pelagic fish that rises from the depths of the Mediterranean starting in September and is caught between August and December.

The mahi-mahi, the absolute star

The heart of the event is the tavulata cu' i piscatura, a grand communal table set up in the historic center where local fishermen cook and serve traditional dishes: busiate pasta with Trapani-style pesto, fried mahi-mahi, yellow melon, and Sicilian pastries, all paired with a glass of wine. Alongside the tastings, cooking shows take place in Piazza Santuario, featuring local restaurant chefs demonstrating refined recipes based on mahi-mahi.

The stories of the seafaring community

Tempu ri Capuna is more than just gastronomy: it is a collective narrative of meetings, music, and memory. On weekend mornings, the mercatu opens with a fish auction in the square hosted by local fishmongers, while boat trips offer a chance to discover the fishermen's trade firsthand. There are also moments dedicated to marine conservation and sustainable fishing, featuring experts on maritime traditions and environmental associations.

Evenings in the square

Every evening, the main square hosts free-entry concerts, turning the mahi-mahi festival into an event for the whole family and the many visitors who choose San Vito Lo Capo for its beach, sanctuary, and authentic village atmosphere, even out of season.

An autumn appointment in Sicily

Organized by the Municipality of San Vito Lo Capo in collaboration with the Fishermen's Association, Tempu ri Capuna has established itself as one of the most heartfelt fish festivals in the Trapani province and all of Western Sicily, successfully extending the town's tourist season into autumn and restoring dignity and visibility to a humble yet delicious fish like the mahi-mahi.