Castelbuono, the Unesco candidacy for gastronomy arrives – Corriere.it

The numbers are there, the support is also important. Indeed, the political world (from right to left) guarantees its support. Moreover, this was confirmed by an unusual event: the announcement in Rome (February 22nd), in the Caduti hall of Nassirya of the Senate of the Italian Republic, of the candidacy of Castelbuono (Palermo) to join the UNESCO Creative Cities network for gastronomy. And it should be noted that even reductive, however peculiar, the term gastronomy.

The capital city of the Madonie, a mountain range in western Sicily, boasts other strengths. The President Ignazio La Russa (Brothers of Italy) and Alessandro Alfieri, Senator of the Democratic Party took part in the press conference in Palazzo Madama. Both convinced fans of Castelbuono. Alfieri, in introducing the meeting, declared that he fully shared the objectives and the mission that the city institutions propose: to enliven and enhance the wide offer of the Madonie (environment, nature, agriculture, products, foods, wines, Mediterranean diet) represented by the village of Castelbuono.

And the president of the Senate, reiterating his appreciation and support of the territory, added: it is right and proper that the institutions support virtuous realities such as Castelbuono, which lack nothing in terms of quality, tradition and industriousness. True that the candidacy for UNESCO Creative City has been built over the years. Mayor Mario Cicero explained it, outlining the path that led the city to invest in the fields of the environment, craftsmanship and tourism. Taking advantage of targeted consultancy. Like that of Elena Federica Marini (executive director of Bia srl) who illustrated the stages of the project, and Adriana Scancarello (consultant of the Municipality), who underlined how the candidacy intends to represent and involve the whole Madonie area, already characterized from Unesco recognitions (see the inclusion in the list of world Geoparks, since 2015) and from the highest quality products. Scancarello is collecting letters of support at a local, national and international level.

But what are the gastronomic emblems that characterize Castelbuono and its territory? To begin with, Manna, religious food par excellence. Slow Food Presidium, this natural sweetener flows from the bark of Madonie ash trees. The basilisk (pleurotus nebrodensis), mushroom, rare and precious, symbol of the place. Crastu oil, extra virgin olive oil of great value. The Sicilian black bee (Slow Food presidium), truffles, wine. Food heritage at the base of the Mediterranean diet (Unesco Intangible Asset since 2010), which during the meeting in the Senate was told by the oncologist Biagio Agostara, of Madonite origins, president of IDiMed (Institute for the promotion and enhancement of the Mediterranean Diet). Representing the production activities, a familiar face: the master pastry chef Nicola Fiasconaro, Cavaliere del Lavoro, image of the family business, now known throughout the world for its confectionery products, primarily panettone. But if Fiasconaro is the best-known reality in Castelbuono, there are other family businesses that boast a long tradition in the food and wine sector: Naselli (ice cream and granita), Bergi (milk and agritourism), Forti (biscuit factory), Tumminello (biscuit factory), Sferruzza ( pastry shop), Biddeci (dairy).

To date, there are 295 UNESCO Creative Cities in countries around the world in various sectors (music, literature, cinema, crafts, design, gastronomy…). The following are included in the circuit in Italy: Alba, Bergamo, Biella, Bologna, Carrara, Como, Fabriano, Milan, Modena, Parma, Pesaro, Rome, Turin. As it reads, the South not represented. Castelbuono can hope well. (www.castelbuonocreativa.it)