The Signature
8
Infiorata Flower Festival Kicks off in Noto By Alberto Lunetta NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
It’s that time of the year again! Noto’s enchanting Infiorata flower festival returns this weekend and will be open through May 18. Along the streets of the historic center, festivalgoers will get a chance to see flower decorations that cover about 700 square meters. Every year, the city administration announces the theme of the year and then organizes a competition for the best arrangements. This year’s festival, which marks the 40th edition, will be dedicated to the Sicilians who immigrated to the United States. Mayor Corrado Bonfanti said the festival would focus on maintaining the emotional bond between Sicily and its immigrants and discovering their success stories. Make sure to visit Noto’s Infiorata Flower Festival this weekend. The festival features floral art displays, entertainment, wine tasting, arts and crafts booths and more. Photo by Domenica Prinzivalli. Infioratori, the artists working with the Genzano decorators to Noto, and Sicilian approaches, Italy is honoring Leonardo flowers, will begin to fill their drawings artists quickly learned the techniques and Da Vinci with a series of exhibitions and with petals a few days before the official the secrets of this ancient art. Since then, events. Among the foremost exhibits is opening on May 17. About 400,000 Infiorata has become one of the most at the Scuderie of the Quirinal Palace in flowers of all varieties are used to create floral artwork of holy images and modern important annual cultural events in Noto. Rome, where the exhibition “Leonardo: Noto is a picturesque Baroque city Science before Science” is on view topics. Most of the displays can be seen located southwest of Siracusa. Along with through June 30. This exhibition offers along Via Corrado Nicolaci, although seven other towns in southeastern Sicily— a fresh reading of Da Vinci’s work there will be smaller decorations in in engineering, technology, art and adjoining roads, courtyards, and squares. Caltagirone, Militello Val di Catania, Catania, Modica, Palazzolo, Ragusa, thought at the dawn of the 16th century, The balconies of Palazzo Villadorata, whose scientific revolution gave birth Montevergini Church, and the aristocratic and Scicli—Noto’s unique architecture has been recognized by UNESCO on to the modern age. Along with the palaces of Modica and Giunta form a its World Heritage List. Noto boasts a exhibition, adults can take lessons in the unique Baroque backdrop for the event. plethora of Baroque churches and palaces technique of Renaissance-style fresco The festival will also feature a vintage are among the most valuable examples painting and drawing in perspective. car parade, dance and music shows, art of the skills of talented artists of the time Also in Rome, the Primoli Foundation exhibits, and food booths selling local has organized an exhibition at the specialties as well as spectacular Baroque such as Gagliardi, Sinatra, and Labisi. For a detailed flower festival schedule National Academy of the Lincei costumes parade and fireworks show. or tourism information on Noto, visit devoted to “Leonardo in Rome: Noto’s tradition of decorating its main Influence and Heritage.” And at the streets was borrowed from the one that is http://www.comune.noto.sr.it. Palazzo della Cancelleria near Campo annually organized in Genzano, a small Italy Celebrates 500 Years of de’ Fiori is a permanent exhibition village in the center of Italy. There, petals Da Vinci devoted to Leonardo, with largewere traditionally spread during religious From www.iitaly.org scale models of his projects. processions honoring the Virgin Mary. In 1980, Noto administrators invited the As the 500th anniversary of his death "ITALIAN NEWS" continued on Page 10
