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Buccheri

Buccheri

Sicily Syracuse

Buccheri offers a unique experience of culture, history and nature in a fascinating Sicilian mountain setting. Its attractions and activities will win anyone’s heart, making a visit to this village an unforgettable adventure.

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Buccheri, located in the province of Syracuse, is an enchanting mountain village that rises about 820 meters above sea level at the foot of Mount Lauro, the highest peak in the Monti Iblei. Nestled in a natural setting of forests, pastures and streams, this charming town offers a unique experience of culture, history and breathtaking scenery.

The historical roots of Buccheri

The origin of the name Buccheri is uncertain and intriguing, with various hypotheses ranging from the Arabic بقرة (baqara), meaning ‘cow’, to the Sicilian word ‘vucceri’, ‘butcher’, derived from the Old French ‘bouchier’. Other theories suggest that the name may be linked to an Arab family or even derive from Greek, from the combination of the words βους (bous) and Ηρα (Hera), indicating that cows sacred to the goddess grazed here.

The first traces of human settlements in Buccheri date back to ancient times, thanks to the presence of pastoral huts and tombs from the Castelluccian period. Myth has it that the shepherd Dafni grazed his flocks and those of the gods to the sound of his flute in these lands.

Conquered and inhabited over the centuries by Siculians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines and Arabs, Buccheri had a decisive development with the arrival of the Normans, who founded the town and built the castle on the Tereo Hill. Since then, the village passed through the hands of several noble families, including the Paternò, Alaimo di Lentini, Montalto, Morra, and Alliata-Villafranca families.

1693 was a crucial year in the history of Buccheri, when a terrible earthquake struck southeastern Sicily. The subsequent reconstruction led to a new urban planning of the village, with the creation of the churches of Santa Maria Maddalena, Sant’Antonio and the Mother Church, and the relocation of the settlement from the castle area to its present location.

Attractions and activities in Buccheri
Today, Buccheri is a lively town perched in the Hyblean Mountains that offers a wide range of activities and attractions for visitors. In addition to the historic churches, it is possible to visit the castle, the snowfields, the woods, the Gole della Stretta, and the Museum of Ancient Crafts.

Numerous cultural events are part of the town’s folklore: the MedFest and the Medieval Drumming Festival in August, the Best Culinary Destination in October, the Passiu Santu during Holy Week, The May Trails, the Way of Light and the Christmas Atmosphere.

Buccheri’s natural wonders include the Gole della Stretta, a canyon carved by the San Leonardo River and ideal for rock climbers, and the many forests surrounding the town. Of particular interest is the old forest of S. Maria, a 115-hectare area covered by a mixed forest and equipped with four picnic areas along a scenic path of about 7 kilometers. This is also home to the only Adventure Park in the Iblei, with platforms in the trees and adrenaline high trails.

In Buccheri, sports enthusiasts can take advantage of soccer fields, tennis, beach volleyball and, soon, padel and equipped fitness areas.

A sensory journey through the flavors of Buccheri
Buccheri’s food and wine tradition draws on the deep roots of Hyblean peasant culture, offering visitors and gourmets an authentic and unparalleled culinary experience. The village’s typical products reflect the link between local ingredients and ancient recipes handed down from generation to generation, making Buccheri a must-visit destination for food lovers.

If you are planning a trip to Sicily, or simply wish to enrich your palate with surprising and authentic flavors, Buccheri will offer an unforgettable food and wine experience that will make you fall in love with the culinary tradition of the Hyblean region.

Village of Buccheri
Municipality of Buccheri
Province of Syracuse
Sicily Region

Inhabitants: 1857 buccheresi
Center altitude: 820 m a.s.l.

the municipality is part of:
Most Beautiful Villages of Italy
Oil City

Municipality
Piazza Toselli, 1 – Tel. 0931 880359

Buccheri, a charming village located in the province of Syracuse, boasts a rich food and wine tradition that is the result of the ancient peasant dishes of the Hyblaean area. The delicacies offered by this Sicilian village range from cold cuts to olives, from mushrooms to sausage, from local first courses made with wild herbs and saffron to dishes with the prized Buccheri Truffle. Not forgetting the typical sweets of the Buccheri Christmas tradition, such as “funciddi,” cookies made with dried fruit.

Recognitions and typical products of Buccheri
Thanks to the quality of its typical products, Buccheri has received numerous national and international awards. Among the foods that have made the village famous are:

  • Extra virgin olive oil with mono cultivar tonda iblea: an intensely fruity oil that in 2015 earned Buccheri the prestigious title of “World Capital of Quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil” during the international Sol D’Oro competition at Verona Fiere.
  • Pani co Pipi: rustic-tasting snack made from stale bread softened with tomato extract and seasoned with oregano, chili pepper, oil and eggs; listed by MIPAAF.
  • Cuddhuruni: pasta softened with water and enriched with extra virgin olive oil, oregano, chili pepper and fresh basil; listed in MIPAAF.
  • Favi Liezzi: broad beans cooked and skillfully seasoned with onion, celery, extra virgin olive oil, tomato sauce, oregano and fresh or dried chili pepper; listed in MIPAAF.
  • Funciddhi: mushroom-shaped sweets created with dried fruit, muscat or marsala, eggs, sugar and chopped tangerine peels; listed in the MIPAAF.
  • Oliva Nera di Buccheri: a variety of Tonda Iblea olives harvested when fully ripe and “sweetened” with a dry salting process; listed by MIPAAF.
  • Oliva a Puddhasceddha di Buccheri: olives harvested at the end of September, sweetened, crushed, boned and seasoned with garlic, fresh mint, wine vinegar and extra virgin olive oil; listed by MIPAAF.
  • Panifrittu cu l’uovu: stale bread, soaked in egg and fried in extra virgin olive oil with the addition of salt and oregano; listed in the MIPAAF.

The cheeses of Buccheri
The company “La Mongibella Soc. Coop.” is one of the excellences of Buccheri, a well-known Sicilian village, renowned for the high quality of its dairy products. Passion for tradition and love for the land are reflected in the cheeses produced by this company, which encapsulate the authentic flavor of Sicily. Their range includes local specialties such as Ricotta salata and Provolone dolce, all made with artisanal care and with milk from their own herds. This buccherese production reality has earned a prominent place in the national and international arena, thanks to its attention to quality, constant commitment and innovation, while always keeping alive its respect for tradition.

  • Buccheri Summer: Evenings of musical entertainment in the good “living room” of Piazza Roma, theater, dancing evenings in the beautiful setting of Buccheri’s Villa Comunale, summer camp for children, sports events, conferences and informational meetings for young and old, cultural activities, are the ingredients of the village that in summer turns into an outdoor tourist village. (June through September)
  • MedFest and Medieval Drumming Festival: Traditional medieval re-enactment event. MedFest envelops everyone in a cathartic ritual, produces an interchange loyal only to entertainment, historical, social and gastronomic culture. Local producers, sticking to the typical medieval cuisine, offer dishes that are outdated and ancient, but steeped in distant times and traditions, all surrounded by numerous shows and themed performances along the streets and squares of the highest village in the Iblei. The unmistakable timbre of the drums, low, noisy and deeply engaging, leads the way for Medfest and brings together various drum groups from all over Italy. (The weekend following Ferragosto).
  • Best Culinary Destination: Immerse yourself in october nature with guided hikes in the woods, mycological exhibits, urban trekking and cultural tours of the village; lunch in Buccheri’s taverns and restaurants with tasting of Traditional Agri-food Products. (October)
  • U Passiu Santu: Easter in Buccheri is a time of faith and participation deeply felt by the community, which looks forward every year to the staging of “U Passiu Santu” on Good Friday. “U Passiu Santu” is the living representation of the Way of the Cross in Sicilian dialect. The rhyming stanzas are recited by a group of more than one hundred costumed extras and figurants, who move through the alleys and squares of the historic center amid spectacular sets and music composed especially for the performance. The entire Holy Week is filled with religious events, themed events and excellent food and wine. (Holy Week)
  • Cena in Biano – unconvetional Dinner: A dinner of the highest level that has become one of the most fashionable events in the village aimed at the community, whose philosophy is linked to the five “E’s”: Ethics, Aesthetics, Ecology, Education, Elegance. (August)
  • Dinner in Biano – unconvetional Dinner: A dinner of the highest level that has become one of the most fashionable events in the borough aimed at the community, whose philosophy is linked to the five “E’s”: Ethics, Aesthetics, Ecology, Education, Elegance. (August)

What to see in Buccheri

Discover what to see in Buccheri among monuments, scenic views, museums, churches and symbolic places of the village. A useful selection to plan your visit and explore the area.