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A plate of grilled sausage with wild greens sautéed with garlic and chilli, rustic bread and a glass of red wine on a wooden table
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Caliceddi, Sausage and Wine Festival in Ragalna

Every November the "balcony of Etna" celebrates Saint Martin with a festival of wild greens, sausage and wine

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The story

On the southern slopes of Mount Etna, 830 metres up, Ragalna celebrates Saint Martin at the table. On 11 November the Church remembers Martin of Tours, the Roman soldier who became a bishop and is famous for cutting his cloak in two to share it with a beggar. In many parts of Sicily his feast is when the new wine is first tasted. In Ragalna it has taken the form of the Sagra della salsiccia, caliceddi e vino, a fixture of the village's autumn which local listings present as the village's traditional way of celebrating Saint Martin.

At its heart is a simple dish: grilled sausage with caliceddi, wild greens that grow on the slopes of Etna, served in a bread roll with a glass of local wine. In past years the festival has been held in Piazza Cisterna, the village's main square, usually on the weekend closest to 11 November: 12 and 13 November in 2016, 11 and 12 November in 2017, and Sunday 12 November in 2023. In 2017 it was run by the local association Aria Nuova Ragalna, whose members cooked the food on the spot.

The festival is part of the Autunno Ragalnese, the season of events through which the village shows off its produce between October and December: extra virgin olive oil, fruit and Etna wine. In 2026, under the name Sagra dei Caliceddi, Salsiccia e Vino, it takes place on Sunday 8 November, again in Piazza Cisterna: the local produce market and the food area open at 10am, and through the day there is live music, a play area with bouncy castles for children, themed sports areas and guided walks. According to the poster, part of the proceeds will go to charity.

Updates

  • : The official poster is out: the Sagra dei Caliceddi, Salsiccia e Vino takes place on Sunday 8 November 2026 in Piazza Cisterna, with the market and food area opening at 10am.

Schedule

  • Play area and bouncy castles for children, themed sports areas and guided walks
  • Live music in the square
  • Local produce market and food area open in Piazza Cisterna: sausage, caliceddi wild greens and wine

What to eat

The signature dish is sausage with caliceddi: sausage grilled over embers and Etna's wild greens sautéed in a pan, eaten in a bread roll.

To drink there is local wine: vineyards are one of Ragalna's mainstays, and the village even has a museum devoted to winemaking, the Museo del Palmento Arena. The market stalls sell local produce from the Etna autumn.

Local tips

  • Parking

    Ragalna is a small village and the festival takes place in Piazza Cisterna, in the center: leave the car on the edge of the village and walk in. Parking and road closures haven't been announced, so check the council's notices before you set off.

  • Payments

    The stalls are run by volunteers and small producers, so bring some cash.

  • Crowds and timing

    The festival draws visitors from nearby towns and from Catania: the market and food area open at 10am, so arrive in the late morning, before lunchtime, if you want to eat without a long wait.

  • What to wear

    In November, at 830 metres on Etna, the air is cool and it may rain: dress in layers and bring a warm jacket, especially if you plan to join the guided walks.

Getting there

The feast takes place in Piazza Cisterna, in the center of Ragalna, on the southern slopes of Mount Etna. It's about 28 km from Catania Airport, just over half an hour by car: take the ring road towards Messina, exit at Misterbianco and follow the SS121 towards Paternò to the turn-off for the village.

How to get to Ragalna: full guide

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Frequently asked questions

When is the Saint Martin's Day feast in Ragalna in 2026?

The Sagra dei Caliceddi, Salsiccia e Vino takes place on Sunday 8 November 2026 in Piazza Cisterna; the local produce market and the food area open at 10am.

Is there an entrance fee?

No, entry is free: you only pay for the food and drinks you buy at the stalls. According to the poster, part of the proceeds will go to charity.

What are caliceddi?

They are wild greens that grow on the slopes of Mount Etna. In Ragalna they are sautéed and eaten with grilled sausage, usually in a bread roll.

Is there anything for children?

Yes, the 2026 programme includes a play area with bouncy castles, as well as themed sports areas, guided walks and live music.

How do I get to Ragalna?

Ragalna is about 28 km from Catania Airport, just over half an hour by car: take the ring road towards Messina, exit at Misterbianco and follow the SS121 towards Paternò to the turn-off for Ragalna.

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Poster for Caliceddi, Sausage and Wine Festival in Ragalna 2026
Official event poster