10 Things to Do in Palermo in September

Joining the patron saint festivities of Santa Rosalia, attending the Ionian Fair in Acireale or the biggest handicraft fair in Palermo, taking part 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, parties and traditions.

In this post you will find a top 10 of 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 walks in Camporeale, Palermo's quintessential wine-growing area, 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 tours include a tasting of 4 or 5 varieties of wine, tasting of a selection of tapas, a visit to the local winery, lunch and even a 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, but especially on September 4th, when the ecclesiastical event takes place during the so-called Day of Remembrance. The streets dress up in festivities with concerts, street theatre, fairs, street markets and the best Sicilian camaraderie to celebrate the miracle of the "santuzza".

In 1624, when the plague devastated a large part of the town, after entrusting the task to the saint, Palermo was soon free of the disease. The popular fervour around the Virgin grew and, in gratitude, the date of her disappearance, 4 September 1160, was marked in 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 honour, which became the patron saint of Sicily.

In September thousands of people from the town and neighbouring 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 definitely during the Santa Rosalia festivities in Campofelice di Roccella.

Every year after 20th September comes the Palermo Crafts Fair, an appointment with Mia Sicilia - Showcase of Artisan Excellence, an initiative with a Palermo accent that is dedicated to highlighting the best Sicilian artistic productions. The event takes place in the main palaces of the city and annually changes 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 number of occasions. Admission is free and the facilities are open to the public. The fair is organised by the ArtisticaMente Association, who for years have been dedicated to promoting and supporting local crafts.

The event will feature local artisans who will present the fine products they produce in the different sectors of transformation: from jewellery to painting, from carpentry to woodwork, not forgetting 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 manifestations that speak of courage and endurance, distinctive qualities of the artists who daily fuse their manual skills with intelligence and creativity to face 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 attractions, landscapes, experiences and heritage, including the legacy of Greece in Palermo, are highlighted starting from the last week of September.

One hundred walks, more than 80 emblematic places, special experiences, festivals, theatre and music festivals representing history, art, architecture, gastronomy and wines are part of one of the best tours in 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 at 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 about 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 organised 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 parish priest's blessing.

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 typical food tastings 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. Moreover, it is possible to 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 culinary cultures and specificities that have been handed down from generation to generation.

In addition, between one dish and another there are cooking workshops, shows and a series of parallel 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 their city has something for everyone, they are not lying. Such is the case of the Fish Festival, better known as Sano come un pesce, an event that takes place on the last weekend of September on the quay of Cala di Palermo.

The purpose of this event is to make everyone aware of the goodness of blue fish, also known locally as 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 out.

September is the last month of summer, so depending on the date of your visit, there's still time to take advantage of the season's warmth and visit evocative sites 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 on full-day, half-day or sunset boat trips to enjoy the sunset with the best panoramic views while you eat an aperitif, drink wine or maybe 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 fine for hiking - what better way to spend your holiday 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 lies a treasure 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 forgotten for some time, but local authorities and Catholic dioceses joined forces to reclaim the space whose treasure stands out at every turn.

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's also an opportunity to see some of Sicily's most important historical sites.

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

Between the 2nd and the 11th of September 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 historical centre 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, marionettes, orchestras, dance groups along with the sale of handicrafts, Sicilian wine and cheese tasting, 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 of celebrating the ancient Fiera Franca di Santa Venera, an event that took place in the territory of Acireale to barter products from Mount 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 the streets to see the traditional products first hand.

This is one of the best family events in Sicily in September where everyone has fun in 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 good time for outdoor activities. However, from the second half of the month onwards, the rains start to fall.

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

For accommodation, some bed&breakfasts will be available from €35, you'll see taxi drivers start to flash their meters again - although I'd still recommend you take the tram or buses - and the shops are starting to offer bargains.