This Thursday, Aug. 11, the town of Salemi celebrates the 12th Edition of the Sagra della Busiata; That is, a culinary festival dedicated to the corkscrew-shaped, long pasta particular to Trapani province. In this photo, taken in May by Vincent Titone, I am attempting to make busiate. Our Sicilian hostesses in Castellammare del Golfo made…
Tag: festival
So Beautiful, It Must Go
A close-up of one of Noto’s flower petal carpets from the 2016 Infiorata. Once the weekend festival comes to and end, the children of the town are invited to gleefully destroy the art work, a gesture that represents a new generation coming and letting going of the past. (Photo Credit: Experience Sicily’s local guide Sebastiano…
The Power of Flower Petals in Noto
The 37th annual Infiorata in Noto is in full swing! Hundreds of people from around the world lined via Nicolaci on Saturday to view the flower carpets designed after the theme, “Traditions, myths, and legends” that celebrates “Hosting the world.” I’m fortunate to have received this photo from Experience Sicily’s local guide Sebastiano Garifo. Thank…
Behind the Scenes at Noto’s 2016 Infiorata
Today, artists were hard at work along via Nicolaci in Noto preparing their entries into the 2016 Infiorata. Our good friend GelsominoImports.com is fortunate enough to be in the Baroque city for the festival. These photos by Niki Masino give us a good idea of the planning and execution of the flower petal carpets. Hopefully,…
Flower Power: Noto’s 2016 Infiorata
Celebrating spring in Noto is a professional sport that takes the form of the annual Infiorata, or flower festival. However, when I say flower, I don’t mean bouquets of fragrant buds placed carefully in vases. No, in Noto, it’s a full-on work of street art in the form of carpets created by flower petals and…
Agrigento’s Almond Blossom Festival
Agrigento has been abuzz in celebration of the annual arrival of the almond blossoms. 2016 is the 71st year that the city, famous for its Valley of the Temples UNESCO World Heritage Site, has held a variety of events recognizing the merits of the almond, the principal crop of the region. Among the events of…
Infiorata in San Pier Niceto
Sebastiano Garifo, Experience Sicily’s local guide sent in this photo from San Pier Niceto in the Province of Messina. This weekend they are celebrating their annual Infiorata festival with flower carpets depicting the Eucharist. Readers of the New York Times may recall an August 2013 article by Russell Shorto, the author of the “New York…
Infiorata through Sebastiano’s Eyes
Experience Sicily’s local tour guide Sebastiano Garifo is in Noto tonight, and he sent me this photo of this year’s Infiorata flower festival to share with you! This photo gives us a great picture of via Nicolaci from la Chiesa di Montevergini, the church at the top of the avenue. Visitors from all over the…
Magic Carpets
This weekend is the 36th annual Infiorata di Noto, or Noto Flower Festival. This year’s theme is “Benvenuta Catalogna” or “Welcome Catalonia.” Over the last few days, along the Baroque town’s via Nicolaci, different art-school groups have been laying out their mosaic designs of flower petals and other natural materials into “carpets” that reflect this…
Let’s Get Wild
In the spring, wild fennel grows throughout Sicily’s mountainous regions. It’s on the side of the road, in orchards under olive trees, in fields… It seems like everywhere you look, within a few meters, you’ll see it. When it’s young, it possesses a wonderful anise or liquorice scent and flavor. On Sunday, in the Madonie-mountain…