Tortone Festival and Dama dei Castelli di Sicilia Historical Pageant

A celebration of sweetness and history

The Tortone Festival and Dama dei Castelli di Sicilia Historical Pageant is one of the most cherished summer events in Sperlinga, a small village in the Province of Enna nestled in the mountains of the Sicilian hinterland. Every August 16th, the streets and squares of the historic center transform into an open-air stage where gastronomic tradition and medieval history intertwine at the foot of the spectacular rock-hewn castle.

The tortone: Sperlinga's signature pastry

The star of the show is the tortone, a local specialty made from leavened dough and olive oil, fried and dusted with sugar and cinnamon. Throughout the afternoon, traditional stalls offer visitors warm tortone alongside other local artisanal products: sweets, legume soups, regional delicacies, and fine wine. It is a perfect opportunity to rediscover the authentic flavors of the Enna area in a lively, convivial atmosphere.

The Historical Pageant and the Dama dei Castelli

Running alongside the food festival is the Dama dei Castelli di Sicilia Historical Pageant, a costume parade featuring ladies and knights representing the noble families who once ruled Sperlinga Castle. The event hosts approximately thirty delegations from the Gallo-Italic lands, communities that preserve a Lombard linguistic and cultural heritage in the heart of Sicily. The square in front of the castle hosts the election of the Dama dei Castelli di Sicilia, the highlight of the entire day.

Re-enacting the 1283 siege

The festival was established in 1982 to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the Sicilian Vespers. In the evening, master swordsmen stage the heroic deeds surrounding the castle siege: Sperlinga was the only place in Sicily to remain loyal to the Angevins during the 1283 revolt, a fact immortalized by the inscription "Quod Siculis placuit, sola Sperlinga negavit". The historical re-enactment, the election of the Dama, and the pyromusical fireworks provide a spectacular finale to the day.

Flag-wavers, musicians, and falconers

From early morning, the village comes alive with roaming performances by flag-wavers, musicians, jugglers, and falconers, taking residents and visitors on a journey back in time. The medieval atmosphere, combined with the natural backdrop of the Enna mountains and the majesty of the castle, makes the Tortone Festival a unique experience in the landscape of traditional Sicilian celebrations.