Christmas in Italy: Panettone Festival 2017

From the 1^st to the 3^rd December 2017 celebrate Christmas in Italy as Cefalù becomes the capital of Italian Christmas cake.

Cefalù on the island of Sicily will host its annual Panettone Festival again this year, showcasing Italian cooking, food tastings and extravagant concerts. During this Christmas weekend, Via Roma in Cefalù will become the panettone place to be!

For those unfamiliar, panettone is a sweet Italian loaf cake traditionally eaten around Christmas in Italy. During Cefalù’s Panettone Festival, forty pastry masters will present their handmade panettone, made in Sicily of course, along with many other Christmas cakes. Importantly, each panettone will be made to a special recipe, unique to each pastry chef. This all makes the Panettone Festival a wonderful treat for foodies enjoying Christmas in Italy.

About Panettone

Traditional panettone combines raisins, candied orange peel, citron and lemon zest into a sweet bread loaf, which is often shaped like a muffin. It is often eaten with fresh cream and may include classic Italian ingredients, such as pistachios or almonds.

Although it is thought to originate from Milan, panettone is available at bakeries nationwide during Christmas in Italy. In particular, Sicilians have taken it to their hearts and Sicilian panettone easily stands among the most exceptional of Italian Christmas cakes, a cut above your average bake. Indeed, the panettone made in Sicily has become an integral part of the Italian culture there. Many Sicilian confectioners have been able to open cake businesses that specialise in panettone, removing the industrial aspect and injecting each cake with heart and soul.

Want to Enjoy Christmas in Italy?

Cefalù’s Panettone Festival is held annually, as are many other intriguing Christmas festivals. This makes Christmas in Italy a wonderful treat for foodies, as well as those looking to immerse themselves in the enchanting Italian culture during the holiday season.

If you would like to experience this annual celebration of panettone, contact our Sicily travel experts today. We provide custom Sicily package holidays and tours for any occasion. For more information about our expert Sicily travel service, please contact us via our online form or give us a call directly at 01223 637331.