The Castelbuono Infiorata will take place over the weekend from 7 to 9 June 2024 with a program full of artistic, cultural and musical events. The event is organized by the Promo Madonie Sicilia Cultural Association, thanks to the patronage of the Municipality of Castelbuono, the Sicilian Region Department of Cultural Heritage and Sicilian Identity, the Regional Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and Mediterranean Fisheries and of the Regional Department of Tourism, Sport and Entertainment.
The theme of the 16th edition of the Infiorata Castelbuonese, this year will be “The Sicily of the Florios” a tribute to a dynasty that marked an era in the history of our island.
The Florio family tells a very important piece of the history of Sicily, the absolute protagonist of the season of belle époque Sicilian, she was one of the richest families in Italy with successful industrial activities that ranged from tuna fisheries to banks, from wine to chemistry and then parties, luxury, car racing and a lion which first became a symbol of success and later a symbol of decadence.
The tradition and history that accompanies one of the most anticipated events in our region, thanks to the Castelbuonesi Infioratori Masters and the students of the participating schools, will reserve us great emotions in a weekend full of art, colours, scents and sensations, especially during the various phases of the creation of the fascinating floral sketches that have led this event to be known in every part of Italy and the world.
Over time, the comparison with groups of flower arrangers from other Italian cities who cultivate the Infiorata tradition has enriched the experience of the groups of infiorators from Castelbuono who have grown in level over the years by acquiring new technical, artistic and creative skills.
It will all begin from 3.30 pm on Friday 7 June during the long night of the Infiorata in the scenic Via Sant’Anna, the heart of the historic center of Castelbuono, where the floral artists will create artistic floral sketches using carnations, gerberas, roses and daisies , fennel, thistle flowers, seeds, collected in the Madonie Park and other material such as carob powder, wheat, barley, bran, coffee powder, rice and salt.
“This year too we are ready to create our flower display – states Jhonny Lagrua President of the PromoMadonie Cultural Association – ever more cultural identity and driving force of our territory, contributing, for sixteen years, to creating tourism and economic activities essential for development, the promotion and valorisation of our territory, as well as the cultural and artistic growth of our flower artists, encouraging discussion, aggregation, collaboration and involvement of an entire community belonging to every age group.
On the occasion of one of the most established and important events in the Sicilian Region, such as the Infiorata Città di Castelbuono, the theme “The Sicily of the Florios” was chosen, a theme which will retrace the various phases of a dynasty that moved from Calabria to Sicily and was very successful in various fields, giving prestige to the image of our island.
The Florio family was the founder of a modern, innovative and productive Sicily and this is one of the reasons to remember it. The cultural legacy left by the Florio family in Sicily has an inestimable value and is still today a symbol of a refined and enterprising Sicily and undoubtedly of a lifestyle.
The contribution of the schools will be indispensable as always, since, in addition to bringing young people closer to art and the territory, with the aim of raising awareness of the importance of knowing the history of our land and our origins, at the same time it will be a new investment to create a “nursery” of young flower-makers to ensure that the art of flower-making is passed down to future generations, safeguarding one of the traditions of our community and our territory.
I thank the Artistic Director Marta Russo and her staff who this year too have scrupulously taken care of the selection and creation of the sketches that will be reproduced by the flower decorators during this edition and the Master Flower Decorators for their commitment and for the precious contribution they dedicate to the event from years.”
The program includes numerous events which will range from food and wine with the tasting of local products at special stands, to exhibitions, workshops, performances by street artists, shows by folklore groups, concerts, evocative medieval historical re-enactments with most beautiful historical processions in Sicily, the flag-wavers and musicians of Sicily who, with their fascinating clothes and armor, will take us back in time, on the occasion of the “Mediterranean Grand Prix” Sicilian Region Trophy which will take place on Sunday 9 June from 4.30pm to 8.30pm amidst the colors and scents of the flower display.
