Squartucciato
Local Food Product
A typical sweet deriving from the Poggioreale tradition, it is produced solely for the celebration of Saint Joseph (18-19 March) and represents various sacred objects. It is made with two sheets of kneaded pastry, which encase a thin layer of crushed dried figs in the centre. The pastry sheets are modelled into the shapes of a heart, a monstrance, a palm, a cross, Joseph’s walking stick, a peacock, a fish etc. The hardest task, as it requires skill and application in addition to fantasy and creativity, is that of the engraving on the top layer of pastry, which, as a highly valued and refined piece of work, depicts flower twigs and images of angels symbolic to the sacredness of the altars built in honour of the saint. The Squartucciati are made to be exhibited on altars dedicated to Saint Joseph, set up by families devoted to the Saint.
Territory
