The real regional surprise in the world of contemporary pizzerias came from the Madonie Mountains, a region always generous and fertile in terms of food and wine excellence. This region is represented by the Calderaro family's pizzeria "Il Castello" in Petralia Sottana.

In truth, pizzerias had already been well-established in the Madonie area for some time, and winning the "Best Pizzerias in Sicily 2022" award successfully established them beyond the local context and gave them visibility throughout Sicily. A success built on solid foundations, achieved after their first participation in the contest.

We spoke with Luca Calderaro, a member of the family, to share some behind-the-scenes insights and curiosities about the contest.

This was your first time participating in the "Best Pizzeria in Sicily" award; was winning your initial goal?

Everyone who participates in a competition always wants to reach the highest possible rank. We were ready thanks to a major advertising campaign, and participation was deeply felt in the Madonie region, thanks to a strong sense of identity that only belonging to an inland area can provide, compared to large cities where relationships are more tenuous. Despite our inexperience, I believe we achieved a remarkable result, thanks to an intense marketing campaign on social media and the feedback from numerous users and customers who shared our message, helping us achieve the best possible result. It was also a platform for us to promote ourselves, and we are honored to have finished second overall, given the high level of participation in the competition.

You have grown significantly in recent years; how do you distinguish yourself from your competitors in Petralia Sottana and the Madonie area?

We have several strengths. First of all, we use many raw materials that we produce directly, following a producer-to-consumer approach. We own a family-run farm that supplies us with fresh and processed vegetables, such as tomato puree, allowing us to offer a guaranteed supply chain. Added to this is the use of ancient grains, with doughs designed for hours of leavening, and the Geraci water we use for the dough, which has important trace elements. We are proud to have created a network that fosters synergy between family businesses, offering quality and added value to the final experience.

Given this year's splendid result, what growth plans do you have in the works?

Following the contest, thanks in part to its media coverage, we have gained greater awareness and confidence in our capabilities, already seeing the results from the reservations. For this very reason, we are working on a pizza dedicated to the contest, which will be presented soon. Furthermore, in agreement with the Municipality of Petralia Sottana, we are planning an event to celebrate the victory, dedicated to the pizza, which will feature guests and other pizza chefs. We hope to create an event that can be repeated annually, to highlight our region and this wonderful product.