10 Things to Do in Palermo in September

Joining the patron saint festivities of Santa Rosalia, attending the Ionian Fair in Acireale or the largest handicraft fair in Palermo, participating in a great horseback ride or closing the summer from the heights of Mount Etna, the highest volcano in Europe, are just some of the activities you can do in September in Sicily, which is a carousel of festivals, festivals and traditions.

In this post you find a top 10 with the best things to do in Palermo during the last month of summer. Let's go there!

Take a break during your visit to the Sicilian capital in September, it's time to get out of the city and into the countryside! Imagine yourself sitting on the terrace of a vineyard, surrounded by the sun, the scent of grapes and dreamy panoramas of the countryside, that's what the vineyard tours in Camporeale, the wine area par excellence in Palermo, offer you.

You'll be sipping a glass of wine and tasting the food, prepared on the spot in a Sicilian cooking class or perhaps a culinary demonstration and lunch - this varies depending on the type of tour you choose. In Camporeale the food is prepared with care, using local ingredients and fresh produce from the vineyard itself.

Often these types of tours include tasting of 4 or 5 varieties of wine, tasting of a selection of tapas, visit to the local winery, lunch and even shuttle service. This is one of the best things to do in Palermo especially in September, as the Italian grape harvest season starts at the beginning of this month. Are you going to miss the opportunity to enjoy it?

If you are looking for a way to experience Sicilian culture, don't miss the Santa Rosalia festivities in Campofelice di Roccella during the first five days of September, though with special emphasis on September 4, when the ecclesiastical event takes place during the so-called Day of Remembrance. The streets are dressed in festivities with concerts, street theater, fairs, street markets and the best Sicilian camaraderie to celebrate the miracle of the "santuzza".

In 1624, when the plague devastated much of the town, after entrusting the task to the saint, Palermo was soon free of the disease. The popular fervor around the virgin grew and, in gratitude, the date of her disappearance, September 4, 1160, was marked on the calendar as the annual feast of the "santuzza".

In 1699, when Don Gaspare La Grutta Guccio founded the town and named it after his wife, Rosalia, he built the Church of Santa Rosalia in her honor, which became the patron saint of Sicily.

In September thousands of people from the town and neighboring villages gather in Campofelice di Roccella to celebrate their patron saint with parades, fireworks and other festivities. Even emigrants who have left return home for this event. The best time to experience the local culture is certainly during the Santa Rosalia festivities in Campofelice di Roccella.

Every year after September 20 comes the Palermo Crafts Fair, an appointment with Mia Sicilia - Showcase of Artisan Excellence, an initiative with Palermo accent that is dedicated to exalt the best Sicilian artistic productions. The event takes place in the main palaces of the city and annually changes the venue to discover treasures in different locations.

Palazzo Pantelleria-Varvaro, as well as the charming Palazzo Drago Ajroldi di Santacolomba, in the heart of Palermo, have hosted the event on a few occasions. Admission is free and the facilities are open to the public. The fair is organized by the ArtisticaMente Association, which for years has been dedicated to promoting and supporting local crafts.

Protagonists of the event will be the local artisans who will present the fine products they make in the different sectors of transformation: from jewelry to painting, from carpentry to woodworking, not to mention weaving and many other artistic expressions. On the other hand, those who wish to buy some vintage garments or enjoy a piece of music, have the opportunity to do so with the orchestras present.

Finally, guided tours of the Resident Palace and the surrounding monuments are offered. The Palermo Crafts Fair has become an increasingly appreciated event, with demonstrations that speak of courage and endurance, distinctive qualities of the artists who daily fuse their manual skills with intelligence and creativity to meet the challenges of the sector.

Palermo is a jewel of Sicily and decades ago, to celebrate its roots, the project The Streets of Treasures (Le Vie dei Tesori) was born, an event where tourist sites, landscapes, experiences and heritage, including the legacy of Greece in Palermo are exalted starting from the last week of September.

A hundred walks, more than 80 emblematic places, special experiences, festivals, theater and music festivals representing history, art, architecture, gastronomy and wines are part of one of the best tours of Palermo. It is a treasure that has been waiting for centuries to be discovered by the world, and now it reveals its secrets to end the summer!

You can explore the city by land or by sea, from the sky or underground, the way you prefer. You can choose from walking tours, visits to Palermo' s best museums with special prices, cruises, helicopter rides... there are even special experiences such as the transformation of historic buildings with videomapping or traditional food and limoncello classes led by expert chefs.

Find out the dates, routes, expert panels, activities and itinerary on their website and take part in this festival that has something for everyone.

The Grand Cavalcade of San Eligio is a celebration of the patron saint of Sciara, a small town in the province of Palermo, in Sicily. The celebration takes place on the last Sunday of September each year, and is organized by the Sciarese Equestrian Association (the oldest equestrian association in Sicily) with the support of the municipality.

The event begins in the early hours of the morning, when horses, donkeys, ponies and other animals are saddled and prepared for their procession through the town. Some are even adorned with images of the patron saint painted on their bodies.

The procession begins with a bas-relief image at the front of the parishioners to represent the miracle of San Eligio (patron saint of goldsmiths, blacksmiths and horsemen). At his side, a gentleman who has expressly requested the privilege of running the event and has the blessing of the parish priest.

At the end of the procession, the priests bless all the participating animals, as well as their riders, who are free to challenge each other in tests of skill and speed throughout the afternoon.

If you are looking for a unique gastronomic experience, the Mediterranean Fair has everything for you in September.

During the event a series of tastings of typical foods are offered through a tour aimed at discovering Sicilian gastronomic traditions and culture. Authentic itinerant kitchens offer a unique gastronomic experience, absolutely innovative and up to date. In addition, you may coincide with one of the editions of the "Palermo Food Festival", the local edition of the festival.

You can taste local delicacies such as caponata, Sicilian cannolo, octopus bollito, sfincione and more, all typical dishes of the region in addition to the international proposals presented by each guest chef. And if you want to know what the prevailing food is, it's street food, the ultimate expression of the cultures and culinary specificities that have been passed down from generation to generation.

In addition, between one dish and another there are cooking workshops, shows and a series of side events to complete the day. Where are they presented? At the Ente Autonomo Fiera del Mediterraneo located in Via Anwar Sadat, 13.

When Palermitans say that in their city there is a party for everyone, they are not lying, such is the case of the Fish Festival, mostly known as Sano come un pesce, an event that takes place the last weekend of September at the pier of Cala di Palermo.

The purpose of this event is to let everyone know about the goodness of blue fish, also called locally the "poor man's fish". Every year those involved in the fishing activity - from fishermen to fishmongers - as well as tourists, chefs and seafood lovers, come together to enjoy the sustainable fishing season of the area.

During this event you will have the opportunity not only to taste delicious dishes served by local restaurants, but also to learn about traditional Sicilian cuisine through workshops with local chefs. The event is free, but you need to make a reservation in advance on their Facebook site, so don't miss it.

September is the last month of summer, so, depending on the date of your visit, you still have time to take advantage of the warmth of the season and tour evocative enclaves such as the beach of the Virgin Mary, Addaura, Grotta Dell'olio, the Island of Women or Isolotto delle Femmine on a half-day cruise from Palermo.

Enjoy a pleasant excursion around the Sicilian capital in its full day, half day or sunset boat trips to enjoy the sunset with the best panoramic views while eating an aperitif, drinking wine or maybe you fancy a limoncello.

The best thing about these excursions is that they are usually all-inclusive and combine, among their stops, caves, beaches, and coves where you have the opportunity to take a dip in the crystal clear waters, snorkel or enjoy the sound of the sea from the deck of the boat. It will be a memorable experience.

It's September and the weather is good for hiking, so what better way to spend your vacation than exploring ancient sites and meandering through lush forests? You can do both on the new hiking route on the way to the Valley of the Greek Temples.

According to local legends, at the foot of the Sicilian hills a treasure is hidden among cliffs and caves that can only be accessed when "three chosen ones" simultaneously dream of the mark of the location. The route to the Greek temples was in oblivion for some time, however, local authorities and Catholic dioceses joined forces to recover the space whose treasure stands out at every step.

It was designed to revive centuries-old paths along which pilgrims walked in search of spiritual enlightenment. The Valley of the Greek Temples in Agrigento is breathtaking and idyllic, but it is not the only thing that makes this route special. It is also an opportunity to see some of the most important historical sites in Sicily.

The path to the monument is part of the impressive Hellenic heritage in Sicily, a visit to these temples is a must to round off the things to do in Palermo in summer, when the weather is kind for hiking.

Between September 2 and 11 takes place one of the oldest and most important Sicilian fairs, the Ionian Fair of Acireale. The event takes place in the vicinity of the historic center of Acireale, from Piazza Duomo around the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Annunciation to Villa Belverde.

Throughout the days of celebration there are cabaret evenings, equestrian shows, puppet shows, orchestras, dance groups along with the sale of handicrafts, tasting of Sicilian wines and cheeses, textiles and even amusement parks and shows every day.

This fair began to be held in 1932, when Alfonso the Magnanimous established it as a way to celebrate the ancient Fair of Santa Venera, an event that took place in the territory of Acireale to barter products from Etna.

To understand the importance of the event it is advisable to start with a visit to Mount Etna, Castelmola and Taormina. Explore the slopes of this World Heritage Site, walk around the crater on foot - or from a cable car, if you prefer - and then stroll through its streets to learn first-hand about traditional products.

This is one of the best family events in Sicily in September where all members have fun under the warm Mediterranean sun.

The minimum temperature is 21 °C while the maximum is 28 °C. Palermo has generally good weather in September. In this month you can still enjoy the summer sun, although with a more pleasant average temperature thanks to its 23 °C, at least until the middle of the month, a favorable time for outdoor activities. However, from the second half of the month onwards, the rains start to fall.

As the city begins to say goodbye to summer and with it, to the wave of tourists arriving in the Sicilian capital between July and August, you tend to find better prices in September.

In accommodation some bed & breakfasts will be available from 35 €, you will see that cab drivers begin to display their meters again - although I still recommend you to use the streetcar or buses - and in the stores the offers are peeking.