A festival that is not held in the square
Almost every Nicosian event lives in the historic centre. Not this one: the Mountain Festival is held in the San Martino recreation area, along the statale 117 towards Mistretta, inside the Sambughetti-Campanito nature reserve. It is the festival of rural Nicosia — woods, pastures, shepherds — organised by the Azienda Speciale Silvo Pastorale under the patronage of the Municipality, as part of the “Nicosia and its rural life” strand.
How the day works
The format tried and tested in recent editions is a full Sunday in the open, roughly from 8:30 am to sunset:
- A morning trek to the Campanito lakes, with guides who tell the geology, history and uses of the woodland.
- Tastings of local produce. The star of the show is the fresh ricotta, made on the spot and eaten warm.
- Music, folklore and games for children in the recreation area for the rest of the day.
Taking part is free.
The 2026 edition
The date is not yet set: the last few editions were held between late September and early October (29 September in 2024, 5 October in 2025). The 2026 programme will be published on the channels of the Azienda Silvo Pastorale and the Municipality.
Good to know
- You can only get there by car or motorbike, along the SS117 towards Mistretta.
- It is a proper mountain day: shoes suited to trekking and an extra layer for the afternoon.
- Those who would rather not walk can skip the trek and come straight for the tastings.
