By

•

min read

Share:

,

The history of Sicilian Cassatella di Sant Agata (Green dessert from Sicily) will surprise you

When in the south of italy, you definitely have to try the iconic green dessert from Sicily, the Cassatella di Sant Agata. Sweet in taste, their historical origin is not so sweet… Shaped like halved balls, often wrapped in white and/or green marzipan, with a red cherry on top. An iconic look, to resemble nothing […]

Advertisement

Cassatella di Sant Agata Sicilian Green Dessert Palermo Travelblog JoyDellavita

Cassatella di Sant Agata Sicilian Green Dessert Palermo Travelblog JoyDellavita

When in the south of italy, you definitely have to try the iconic green dessert from Sicily, the Cassatella di Sant Agata. Sweet in taste, their historical origin is not so sweet… Shaped like halved balls, often wrapped in white and/or green marzipan, with a red cherry on top. An iconic look, to resemble nothing less than a womans breast. More precisely, the breast of Agatha of Sicily. She is a christian saint and was martyred.

Agatha of Sicily, namegiver of the Cassatella di Sant Agata

Agatha of Sicily only lived from 231 to 251 AD until she was martyred. She was born in Catania, then part of the roman province of Sicily.
During the Decian persecution (250–253) she was martyred for her determined profession of faith, to God, and not worshipping the Roman gods as the decree ordered them to do so. Read here a bit more about the Effects of the edict on Christians. She was tortured, and underwent stretchching on a rack, burning with torches, and eventually the excision of her breasts with hot metal pincers (“breast rippers”). She survied all of this, and later died in prisonship. And this is where the origin of this dessert comes from. In rememberance on her lost breasts, we now get to enjoy a sweet dessert. Kind of macabre, no..?

Remembering and celebrating Agatha of Sicily nowadays

The fest for Agatha of Sicily is on February 5th, in her home of Catania. Read more about the festival on the website of visitsicily.info.

Cassatelle di Sant Agata Palermo
Cassatelle in Palermo

Advertisement

Share

looking for something?

Popular Topics

#CanberraTogether – Canberra Together 4 Star Hotel 5 Star Hotel Airline Review Allgäu Amsterdam Art Museum Baden-Baden Baden-Württemberg Barcelona California Catalonia Christmas Market Emilia-Romagna Falafel Frankfurt Friedrichshafen Hamburg Hotel Review Instagram Lake Constance Lombardy London Los Angeles McDonalds Milan Munich Museum Paris Pizza Places with a view Restaurant Hamburg Rome St Gallen Stuttgart Train Travel Travel Diary Tuscany Vegan Vegetarian Veggie Burger Veneto Verona Vorarlberg Zurich Travel Tips

Advertisement

Can’t find something?

About Lisa

Lisa Adriane

Lisa is a Blogger for more than a decade now, sharing her adventures exploring the world on JoyDellaVita, as well as excursions into the culinary world, sustainable choices, how to live a healthy active lifestyle but overall, how to enjoy a life full of joys.

Follow on Social

Advertisement

%d bloggers like this: