Slow Food Presidia in Sicily

Sicily is an island that enchants. It does so with its varied landscapes, its historical treasures emerging around every corner, and its unforgettable flavors.
Sicily is truly a land that speaks through taste. Between sea, mountains, and hills, each product tells a story. Thanks to the Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversity, many of these stories continue to live on, protected and enhanced by the Slow Food Presidia, projects that safeguard native varieties, traditional breeds, and artisanal techniques at risk of extinction.

There are over 50 Presidia in Sicily: a mosaic of local identities and unique products, born from a deep relationship between communities, environment, and culture.
A precious heritage made of agricultural biodiversity, ancestral knowledge, and authentic ties to the land.

Among the island’s most iconic vegetables stands out the Red Garlic of Nubia, cultivated between Trapani and Paceco, with bright, fragrant, and intense bulbs. The Giarratana Onion, sweet and monumental, evokes the gardens of the Iblean plateau, while the Siccagno Tomato from the Bilìci Valley, grown without irrigation, captures all the heat of the Sicilian sun.

The island’s mountainous heart preserves cheeses of ancient tradition: the Vastedda of the Belìce Valley DOP, the only sheep’s milk pasta filata cheese in Italy, and the Provola delle Madonie, elegant in flavor and still handcrafted. Alongside, the Raw Milk Sicilian Pecorino revives the memory of pastures and shepherds every day.

In dried fruits, Sicily reigns supreme. The Pistachio of Bronte, known as “green gold,” thrives on the slopes of Etna, nourished by lava and wind, while the Almond of Noto perfumes the baroque sweets of the southeastern coast. Among fresh fruits, the Strawberry of Sciacca and Ribera delights with its intoxicating aroma.

The sea also has its guardians: the Tonnina of Favignana, echo of historic tuna fisheries; the Anchovy Colatura of Sciacca, a prized Mediterranean condiment; and the Artisanal Sea Salt of Trapani, still harvested by hand among windmills and salt pans.

Among the silent guardians of biodiversity, the Black Sicilian Bee must be remembered: docile, resilient, and tireless producer of pure honey, it symbolizes the balance between humanity and nature.

Each Presidio tells a story of land, effort, and passion. To travel through their places means discovering the true soul of Sicily, where taste is culture and every flavor has meaning.