The ribbon-cutting ceremony officially kicked off the event sixth edition of the Taurianova Infiorata. After working all night on their knees on the asphalt, yesterday morning, the inflorators delivered to the city a magnificent floral carpet, made up of 23 sketches of 6×4 metres, for a total of 672 m2 which almost entirely covers the XXIV Maggio course. The long-awaited event, rightfully among the most important of the summer in Tauriano and beyond, which is preparing to rise to the roof of the world thanks to the imminent recognition of UNESCO intangible heritage, has already set a record.
This year, in fact, for the first time in Italy, the Pro Loco “Taurianova in the heart”, led by the tireless president Nello Stranges, who organizes the event, has managed to bring together in a single event the main Italian infioratori associations (Gerano, Genzano, Pachino, Camaiore, Noto, Montefiore dell’Aso and Torricella Sicura), which , each with their own technique and materials, created one or more sketches, thus creating a long colored carpet, where the flowers rest in harmony with fruit and vegetables, sawdust, shavings, salt, sand, marble chips and so on .
In addition to the most famous inflorators in Italy, those from Calabria from Monasterace, Gallico, Palmi, Gioia Tauro and Bovalino also participated, as well as students from the Academy of Fine Arts of Reggio Calabria. Coordinating the work was an internationally renowned artistic director, Valentina Mammana, president of the CulturArte association of Noto – which for years has been entrusted with the artistic direction of the Infiorata netina as well as the European Festival of Ephemeral Arts and numerous other cultural events. ephemeral art that take place in the most important cities in the world – as well as vice-president of Cidae (Coordinadora internacional de entidades de alfombristas de arte efimero), the most important international association of ephemeral arts in the world, of which the Taurianova Infiorata is part.
This year’s theme is also particularly interesting and appreciated, namely “The magic of comics meets ephemeral art”, chosen to pay homage to Taurianova, the Italian capital of books. But since the mission of the Pro Loco has always been to promote culture by focusing on the beauties of our territory, the various comic characters represented in the floral carpet have been inserted in purely Calabrian contexts, enhancing the places and the heritage art of Calabria. Thus, it is possible to admire Spider Man and Captain America visiting Palazzo Contestabile in Taurianova, Dylan Dog sitting on the beach of Scilla, Naruto on Pietra Kappa, Asterix and Obelix on holiday in Le Castella, Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck discovering Ancient Kaulon, Lupine III on the beach of the Arco Magno, Batman and Joker in the nave of Gioacchino da Fiore’s Abbey, Tweety and Sylvester the cat on the Liberty railing of Villa Zerbi in Reggio Calabria, Tintin at the Cattolica of Stilo, Spiderman and Wonder Woman flying over the Tre Crosses of Mount Sant’Elia in Palmi, Goku in search of the dragon balls at Capo Colonna, Popeye and Olivia dancing a tango in front of the Cathedral of Taurianova, Tex on Aspromonte, Ruby straw hat with the Riace Bronzes , Peanuts in Magna Graecia, Corto Maltese in Taureana, Tom and Gerry in Tropea, Diabolik and Eva Kant in Taurianova, in ancient Jatrinoli.
After the blessing of the sketches by the parish priest Don Mino Ciano, yesterday afternoon the ribbon was cut by the godmother, the influencer Noemi Spinetti, and the godfather, Giuseppe Garibaldi of Big Brother 2024. Also present was the deputy Francesco Cannizzaro , the vice-president of the Calabria Region, recently elected to the European Parliament, Giusi Princi, the president of the Anci, as well as president of the province of Cosenza and mayor of San Giovanni in Fiore, Rosaria Succurro, the mayor of Taurianova Roy Biasi together with his administration , the mayor of Bovalino, Vincenzo Maesano, the tourism councilor of the municipality of Noto, Massimo Prado and the regional guarantor of childhood and adolescence, Antonio Marziale.
Doing the honors will be the president of the Pro Loco, Strangeswho before passing the floor to the guests wanted to thank those present but above all his boys, «without whom this event would not exist”, and the artistic director Mammana, for their commitment and dedication. The word was then passed to the councilor of Noto, who, bringing the mayor’s greetings, said he was happy to participate in «this splendid event. I returned after a year and I realize that the level and quality have increased and the professionalism is palpable”. Prado concluded by renewing the availability of the municipality of Noto for cultural exchange, started in 2016 with a twinning.
The word then passed to the mayor Biasiwho said he was proud to be able to boast the cultural twinning with the city of Noto, «which has already borne very important fruits since the first years. Thanks to events of this kind, Taurianova is growing a lot in cultural terms. Ephemeral art is taking root in our territory and is bringing us into the limelight, giving us the opportunity to have many visitors.” Having said this, Biasi then announced his intention to confer honorary citizenship on Valentina Mammana.
«You represent that bridge that we institutions should build – began the deputy Cannizzaro – but in fact it has already been built between Noto and Taurianova and therefore between Calabria and Sicily. And I believe this is the most significant bridge there can be. Thanks to the dedication, attachment, stubbornness, self-sacrifice and passion of the Pro Loco, today we are here to celebrate this sixth year of the Infiorata which speaks for itself”. Before concluding he wanted to thank president Stranges, defining him as the “deus ex machina” of the event.
He thanked for having had the opportunity to «appreciate this extraordinary event”, the president of the Anci, I suck, saying she was thrilled by the fact that one of the sketches has the Abbey of San Giovanni in Fiore as its backdrop. «This is the opportunity, not only to make people know more and spread what our territory is. Taurianova becomes the mirror of what is a beautiful Calabria, where the Infiorata makes its places known.” «It is always a source of pride to be in Taurianova – said Giusi Princes – because I feel at home here. 2024 is the year of Calabria, thanks to the precious recognition of Taurianova as capital of the book, which allows us to reclaim the great opportunity for redemption that culture must be.”
Having said this, he wanted to thank the president of «this virtuous and beautiful team that is Pro Loco”For «the important work they do. Ephemeral art, thanks to Nello Stranges, will be recognized by UNESCO and will represent that intangible heritage of which Calabria will be even more proud”. Before concluding you promised to bring the Infiorata to Brussels. The speeches were concluded by godmother Noemi Spinetswho said she was proud to represent an event of this magnitude, and her godfather Giuseppe Garibaldi, who without beating around the bush simply wished everyone a good Infiorata. Today is the last day of the three-day event, which will see the actor as a guest Gabriel Garko and which will end at 11.30pm with the inauguration of the Infiorata, i.e. the traditional children’s race on the carpet which will decree the destruction of the paintings.
