Experience Sicily

Tag: noto

  • 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…

  • Horses Abound in Noto

    Extravagant balconies such as this one were created by Baroque artisans when Noto was rebuilt in the 17th century after a devastating earthquake in 1693. Particular attention was given to creating beautiful architectural details such as this one on via Nicolaci. We’ll be visiting Noto, part of “The Late Baroque Towns of Val di Noto”…

  • Dreamy Noto

    Balcony and window boxes with flowers photographed in Noto.

  • 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…

  • Infiorata: Flower Petal Carpets in Noto and Castelbuono

    Here is a long-view of Castelbuono’s Infiorata that takes place annually in June. These “carpets” are mosaics made of flower petals and other natural materials. If you are lucky enough to be in Sicily in May, like for example, this weekend, then I urge you to go to Noto where they celebrate their world-renowned “Infiorata…

  • Cloisters in Noto

    Known as a “stone garden” because of the white rock used to construct its principal buildings, the city of Noto was rebuilt after a devastating earthquake in 1693. The 18th century noble families built beautiful Baroque churchs and convents (for their daughters) like San Francesco (on the right) and Salvatore (on the left). Note the…

  • The Petals of Infiorata

    On May 16-18 in Noto, they will be celebrating their annual “Infiorata di Noto.” It’s not the only town in Sicily that dedicates a street in its town to flower-petal art; however, Noto is world-famous for its annual May festival along via Nicolaci. This photo is a close-up (actually from Castelbuono’s festival which is in…

  • Beauty in the Details

    This cherub is one example of the extraordinary balcony details found in Noto. Balconies such as this one were created by Baroque artisans when the city was rebuilt in the 17th century after a devastating earthquake.