Story

Santa Croce Camerina born in the myth of the ancient Greek colony of Kamarina, was founded in 598 BC, whose archaeological remains today represent one of the most important sites on the Iblean coast. The modern urban center developed starting from a nucleus from the Byzantine and Arab era, then consolidating around a Norman farmhouse. The city has experienced centuries of history linked to large estates and noble architecture, still visible today in the buildings in the centre. In recent decades, its identity has been inextricably linked to the coastal hamlet of Punta Secca, where the majestic lighthouse built in 1853 watches over a seaside village that has become famous throughout the world as a film set, transforming a quiet fishing village into an icon of international tourism.

Tradition and Historical Festival

The maximum expression of popular devotion is celebrated in March with the Feast of St. Joseph. The most authentic and spectacular tradition is that of the "Dinners": monumental altars set inside private homes, open to pilgrims and visitors. These altars are loaded with first fruits, flowers and above all the typical "Breads of Saint Joseph", edible sculptures modeled by hand in sacred and symbolic shapes (such as the Saint's beard or the flowering staff). It is a rite of sharing and sacred hospitality that transforms the urban fabric into a journey of faith and ephemeral art, culminating in the blessing of the dishes offered to the "Saints" (three people representing the Holy Family).

Gastronomy and Typical Dishes

To brand the culinary offering of Santa Croce Camerina, the absolute protagonist is the 'Lamb panata. Although closed focaccias are widespread throughout the Ragusa area, the Santacrocese version stands out for the complexity of the filling and the "riefulu" closing technique (a hand-woven string of dough). Traditionally prepared for the Easter holidays and for Saint Joseph, the 'mpanata contains layers of lamb or hillock meat, potatoes and fresh onion, slowly cooked inside a crunchy sheet of durum wheat semolina. Alongside this land tradition, the hamlet of Punta Secca offers the counterpoint of the sea with the local "blue fish", celebrating a territory that knows how to skilfully combine the excellences of the fields and those of the Strait of Sicily.