Passing in front of the windows of any Sicilian pastry shop, it is inevitable to be attracted by a triumph of colors that betrays the presence of one of the inevitable typical sweets in the history of Sicilian culinary art. The martorana fruit , in fact, personifies the confectionery tradition of this region, having its origins in medieval times. This dessert bears the name of Martorana Monastery in Palermo, founded by the noblewoman Eloisa Martorana in 1194.

According to legend, the nuns who lived in the monastery created fruit with a mixture of almonds and sugar to enrich and adorn the bare garden in anticipation of the visit of an illustrious person, an archbishop or even the emperor.

Thus, oranges, lemons, cherries, figs, mandarins and other varieties of fruit were born, but also marzipan vegetables and fish for an extraordinary exaltation of colors and delight for the palate.

Martorana fruit, in Sicily, is one of the typical sweets linked to the so-called “Feast of the dead” , the Commemoration of the dead. An ancient recurrence that served to exorcise death: according to tradition, on the night between 1 and 2 November, the dead returned to the living and brought sweets, candies and, in fact, a basket of martorana fruit as gifts to the children.

Today, this typical Sicilian dessert can be found at any time of the year, in a riot of colors and goodness, to the delight of adults and children.

Come and taste it at the Bar delle Poste pastry shops or buy it online here.