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Sicily's tastiest Carnival
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From the most famous cities, first among which are Venice and Viareggio, down to the smallest and least well-known villages, every region in Italy comes to life with masked processions and floats.
There are, however, also corners of Italy where Carnival is celebrated in an altogether original and curious way. Such is the case in Novara di Sicilia, a village in the province of Messina inland from Taormina, at the foot of the Peloritani mountains. Here, Carnival is celebrated with a unique Seventeenth-century tournament. In the village's streets, large forms of Maiorchino, a typical local cheese are rolled, providing both tourists and onlookers the chance to discover traditions and flavours that date back centuries. |
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THE MAIORCHINO TOURNAMENT |
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All the participants are ready at the start line. The first winds cord about one metre long around the Maiorchino, a hard cheese that is similar to Pecorino, one of the most prized in Sicily. When the lace has been wrapped around, the spectators make room and spread out along the sides of the streets, so that the contestant can take aim and throw the cord as hard as possible: the cheese begins to roll along the cobbled streets, and each time that it falls over, the operation is repeated.
This is how Carnival is celebrated in Novara di Sicilia, in the province of Messina. Each year Shrove Tuesday sees an unusual Seventeenth-century tournament, once reserved for men, now also open to women. The competition involves making the mature Maiorchino cheese, weighing ten kilos, roll along the route, over two kilometres long.
On Carnival Day, only the finalists may take part: in the three weeks leading up to the competition, fifteen teams of three players each compete to get past the eliminatory trials, held in Novara di Sicilia and other nearby villages.
Many spectators as well as tourists follow the competition, and afterwards everyone has the chance to experience some of the local food products. Indeed, a sheepfold is set up in Piazza Bertolami where the cheese makers, wearing the garments worn in days gone by, prepare ricotta and "tuma" (fresh pecorino) by hand. Also on the occasion of the Carnival celebrations, the Olimpia sporting group organises the Sagra del Maiorchino, with stands that allow the public to taste this flavoursome local cheese. |
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 Useful information
This year, the final of the Maiorchino tournament will be held from 16 to 24 February.
For more information, contact the Azienda Autonoma Provinciale in Messina (Via Calabria; tel. 0039.90.674271).
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