Il Melograno Farm: Excellence Among Sicily’s Wildflower Honeys

I believe Mario had an absolute blast last night. He, who always maintained that the dead never truly die but observe us from the afterlife, from another dimension, I saw him sitting on the steps of his house, on a small street near the Church of Santa Caterina in Mistretta. He was watching, watching us, and watching himself.

His clever, deep, and gentle gaze, curious like the goblins he loved to paint, rested on the faces of those who, five years after his passing, had decided to accept the invitation from family and friends to attend a cool August evening dedicated not to his commemoration, but to his memory.

He had a blast, as I said. I noticed it when he was in stitches, listening to the words of his close friend, Tatà. Growing up with a person, sharing their battles, passions, bold and unconventional choices, their successes and failures, is the fertile ground where a sincere, deep, and timeless friendship germinates, grows, and matures. This is why Tatà, in talking about Mario, couldn't help but talk about himself. And vice versa. Mario, sitting on those steps, laughed and Tatà smiled, between one anecdote and another, as he spoke to us about Mario the boy, Mario the artist, Mario the philosopher, Mario the politician, Mario the "communist," Mario the writer, Mario the man.

At a certain point, however, Mario's amused expression changed, becoming more introspective. The scene was changing, and Mario was changing too. His son Alvaro took up his guitar, adjusted the microphone, and, along with Valentina, began to sing the first notes of "La canzone di Marinella," by that De André whom Mario, so long ago, had introduced to his own son.

Mario had sung De André over and over at home, during get-togethers, maybe even with his group, Gli Elfi, but now, hearing it sung by Alvaro, it moved him and, at the same time, pleased him. "Alvaro is really good," he thought to himself, as the magic of the music spread along the narrow street crowded with people. Then I saw him go down the stairs and play the last verse along with them:

"This is your song, Marinella Who flew to the sky on a star And like all the most beautiful things You lived only for a day, like the roses And like all the most beautiful things You lived only for a day, like the roses."

While Alvaro and Valentina continued their musical performance, Mario, Liria, and Ferruccio led us up the stairs into what is now a small museum. It holds paintings, sketches, writings, and various documents produced by Mario during his long artistic life, carefully preserved by his family in that treasure trove of material and immaterial culture that Tatà would like to turn into a Foundation. It is the studio-workshop where Mario unleashed his exceptional artistic sensibility, his ironic, sarcastic, irreverent, bold, and fascinating, yet also gentle, brush. The colors, the painted figures with their almost photographic appearance, the symbols and symbolisms, the gnomes, toads, open books, and faces have always struck me.

The Rimembranze exhibition will also be open today, August 16th, from 7:00 PM onwards. If you look closely, Mario will still be there watching, watching us, watching himself.

For more information: http://www.mistretta.eu/Speciale%20Mario%20Biffarella.html

Mistretta Awarded the Prestigious National Title of “City of Folklore 2025”

Mistretta has been awarded the prestigious national title of **“City of Folklore 2025”**, a recognition granted by the **Italian Federation of Popular Traditions (FITP)**. The honor highlights the universal value of the town’s **demo-ethno-anthropological heritage**, passed down with passion through centuries of popular and religious traditions.

This honor, unanimously approved by the FITP, originated from a proposal by the **Municipal Council** and directly reflects the efforts of both the **local administration** and cultural associations in preserving, promoting, and passing on Mistretta’s ethnographic heritage to future generations **Motivation and Significance of the Recognition**

In its official statement, the FITP emphasized how **Mistretta**, already renowned as the birthplace of anthropologist **Giuseppe Cocchiara**, stands out for its ability to preserve and pass on rituals that find their fullest expression in events such as **Holy Week**, the **Feast of Saint Sebastian**, the **Dance of the Giants**, and many other devotional re-enactments. These rituals blend the sacred and the profane in a **civil language of identity and belonging**.

A key role in the transmission of these values is played by the **Centro Studi Amastra**, a leading institution in researching and promoting local traditions. The award also pays tribute to the community spirit and passion with which the people of Mistretta protect their memory, cohesion, and identity—bringing Italy’s folkloric heritage to life.

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### **The Ceremony and Folklore Evening**

The award was celebrated during an **official ceremony held at the “Falcone e Borsellino” Cine-Theatre**, which was filled to capacity. The event included an **extraordinary session of the Municipal Council**, during which the title was formally ratified.

Following the official proceedings, the theatre transformed into a vibrant stage of **music, color, and tradition**. Participants included students from **Mistretta and Tusa**, the Palermo-based folk singing group **Le Matriosche**, the Catania storyteller **Luigi Pino**, and the **Centro Studi Amastra**, which has long played a leading role in local cultural promotion.

*(Source: Quadrochiaro.it)*

The Maria Messina Prize is a major cultural initiative promoted by Associazione Progetto Mistretta. The Maria Messina Literary Prize was first held in 2004 and is dedicated to the writer Maria Messina.

Maria Messina, one of Sicily’s most important women writers, was born in Palermo in 1887. In 1903 her father, a school inspector, was transferred to Mistretta, where the family lived until 1909. During those formative years she began writing stories inspired by the town. They were published in 1911 and contributed to two notable collections, Pettini fini and Piccoli gorghi. She later wrote novels and books for young readers and died in Pistoia in 1944.

One hundred years after leaving Mistretta, Maria Messina symbolically returned to the town she loved. In 2009 her remains were laid to rest beside her mother in Mistretta’s monumental cemetery. The initiative, promoted by Associazione Progetto Mistretta with the municipality and local community, also led to a street near the Church of San Giuseppe being named after her.

To honour the author—who corresponded with Giovanni Verga—Associazione Progetto Mistretta has organised the literary prize since 2004. The nineteenth edition was scheduled for 5 October in the reception hall of the Circolo Unione.

The prize is open to writers, young authors and students who find their chosen form of expression in writing. Over the years it has honoured prominent Sicilian, Italian and international writers and cultural figures, with participants and award recipients from the United States, Germany, Tunisia and Spain.

The event also recognises associations, local initiatives and individuals whose work contributes to storytelling, the arts and cultural life. This edition includes a posthumous award dedicated to a distinguished painter from Palermo.