HomeDestinationsInterestsTop Places to Travel by MonthSearchMenuBest time to go to Sicily fills the historic streets of Acireale each year with vibrant celebrations allegorical-grotesque floats where local artisans express their creativity through intricate designs The festival atmosphere comes alive with giant figures crafted from lemons and oranges enhancing the sensory experience and bringing an extra layer of vibrancy to this beloved event The Acireale Carnival's schedule features both papier-mâché and flower-decorated floats with additional parade dates extending the celebration while flower-decorated floats are featured on Monday and Tuesday Recent changes to the program now include papier-mâché float parades on the two preceding Sundays and the final Saturday with flower-decorated floats parading daily from the last Saturday through Shrove Tuesday these flower-decorated floats return for a special event The parade is a centerpiece of the Acireale Carnival where illuminated floats with intricate designs and synchronized lights set the festive tone The procession winds through Corso Umberto and Corso Italia before circling back to Piazza del Duomo making it a highlight of this traditional Sicilian celebration brings the celebrations to a grand close with an award ceremony honoring the best floats It is followed by a spectacular fireworks display lighting up the night and creating a memorable end to the festivities A daily admission ticket to the Acireale Carnival grants access to parades and shows Children under 120 cm in height can enter for free along with free admission for disabled individuals and their companions Paid parking areas for the Acireale Carnival are available at a daily rate of €5 Locations include Piazzale Francesco Vecchio and Corso Italia (on both sides) between Via Kennedy and Via Lazzaretto the Acireale Carnival Museum beautifully preserves the essence of Sicily's famous carnival Highlights include intricate pieces by artists Rosario Lizio and Natale Longo Visitors can explore the rich cultural heritage that makes Acireale's carnival so unique The Carnival of Acireale has roots reaching back to 1594 the festival allowed locals to mock the powerful symbolized by masks like the "Abbatazzu," which satirized clergy festivities included playful orange and lemon throwing Acireale's carnival joined the Italian national lottery the carnival combines modern flair with age-old customs Italy’s “Carnevale” season is celebrated with lively parades The Viareggio Carnival in Tuscany showcases massive paper-mâché puppets and parades while Ivrea’s Carnival includes a historic orange-throwing battle Cento Carnival in Ferrara spans five Sundays featuring car parades and comic-themed events Putignano’s Carnival—Italy’s oldest—begins in December and a grand funeral procession on Shrove Tuesday Acireale Piazza del DuomoAcirealePiazza del DuomoLast updated: November 14, 2024Authors: People interested the Governor of Sicily Renato Schifani made an extremely important announcement for the sector: sicilian spa sector restarts after the troubled events of the past few years a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) will be pursued to revitalize the Acireale and Sciacca spas The last bureaucratic difficulties have been overcome and the window for private parties to submit their projects opens these days The available share is 49% of the establishments and the private party will be responsible for renovating the two prestigious complexes The region has earmarked 90 million euros for redevelopment with private parties to provide 94 million euros This news can be better understood by taking a step back and looking at the history of these two spa complexes Sciacca became an important agricultural and commercial center and its name may have come from the Arabic word for "bath" or "cleft." Under the Normans the town continued to prosper and until the 16th century was one of the wealthiest in Sicily the baths went into decline until the nineteenth century when physicians such as Giuseppe Licata worked for their revival deputy Saverio Friscia promoted its the importance at the national level Economic recovery came through the exploitation of thermal waters and the discovery of corals leading to the construction of new establishments including the Art Nouveau complex between 1928 and 1938 has a long history linked to the presence of sulfur springs known and used since Greco-Roman times for their curative properties attracting the attention of doctors and scholars who began to study their beneficial effects the first facilities were built to exploit the springs for therapeutic purposes which marked the beginning of a new phase of growth for Acese thermalism the baths of Acireale experienced a period of great splendor which helped make the city one of the most prestigious spa resorts in Sicily the complex was expanded with new facilities the complex entered a phase of gradual decline culminating in the final closure of the spa in 2010 the Baths of Acireale represent an important historical and architectural heritage with neoclassical and Art Nouveau buildings set in a fascinating landscape "The spas of Acireale and Sciacca have been closed for 10 years but today the region is ready to turn over a new leaf when the previous bid to redevelop them was unsuccessful due to bureaucratic and managerial obstacles this time the context is completely different the region has solved a number of critical issues that only a public entity could address removing the impediments that had discouraged the participation of private companies in the revitalization effort This new scenario can pave the way for real interest on the part of operators in the sector who can now count on more favorable conditions to invest and contribute to the revitalization of the spa The goal is not only to reopen the facilities but to transform them into thermal tourism excellences to offer an authentic and sustainable experience for visitors with positive spillover effects for the territories Precisely to emphasize this vision of quality and innovation the region chose to present the relaunch project within the Thermalia Village at BIT in Milan This decision stems from the conviction that the private individuals who will participate in the upcoming public notices must represent excellence in the sector bringing expertise and strategic vision to revive these facilities and make the most of our land's potential With 90 million euros allocated from the Development and Cohesion Fund and a Public-Private Partnership model Sicily wants to finally transform spas into a reference point for wellness tourism at the national and international level to deseasonalize the offer and thus attract new flows This is the right time to breathe new life into a heritage that deserves to be enhanced in the best possible way The change in thermal water concession fees included in the Stability Law's draft bill is another step forward toward the revitalization of the sector in Sicily allows us to align ourselves with the best practices adopted in other regions finally making investment in the sector economically advantageous with a taxation of 5% on turnover and therefore gross of costs did not allow adequate attractiveness for operators limiting the possibilities of development." This was said by the president of the Sicily Region commenting on the publication in the Official Gazette of the regulation that reduces fees to 0.5% including the design and execution of the works." What to say Good luck to those who will engage in this meritorious work of recovery to return this enormous heritage to Sicily and Italy as a whole Source: Sotheby's Source: Mansion Global HomeDestinationsInterestsTop Places to Travel by MonthSearchMenuBest time to go to Italy The whole Italy dresses up in incredible costumes and masks Save Visited Rate Review ShareViareggio Carnevale"Pesto alla genovese" by Michelangelo Francesconi Viareggio Carnival ParadeViareggio Carnival ParadeCarnevale di IvreaIvrea CarnivalIvrea CarnivalCarnevale di CentoCarnevale di PutignanoCarnevale di Putignano known as "Carnevale," are celebrated in numerous cities during the weeks leading up to Easter with festivities peaking before Ash Wednesday and Lent These celebrations typically last two to three weeks culminating in the grand final day known as Shrove Tuesday or Fat Tuesday The heart of these winter festivities is the parade of artistic masks Italian Carnivals remain a cherished tradition attracting both locals and international visitors The Acireale Carnival has been celebrated since 1594 and is famous for its vibrant parades the carnival has evolved from satirical events mocking the powerful to an extravagant spectacle of papier-mâché floats and intricate floral displays The tradition of float-making began in the late 19th century it features parades with illuminated figures and lively music Mardi Gras evening closes the celebration with awards and fireworks marking the culmination of this joyful event The history of the carnival includes symbolic elements like masks that mocked authority incorporating floral decorations and larger the Acireale Carnival became part of Italy's national lottery solidifying its status as a key cultural event The modern celebration blends centuries-old traditions with contemporary artistry the Carnevale di Venezia transforms Venice into a grand and noblemen as revelers don elaborate costumes and masks and celebration until the festival concludes on Shrove Tuesday The carnival is renowned worldwide for its vibrant atmosphere and captivating events Highlights like the "Flight of the Angel" and the "Feast of the Maries" showcase the city's rich traditions guests experience a masquerade ball in the opulent Ca' Vendramin Calergi each reflecting Venice’s unique cultural legacy the festival was revived in 1979 and now attracts millions of visitors annually Viareggio in Tuscany hosts one of Italy’s grandest Carnevale celebrations spanning several weekends with six major parades The festival is famous for its spectacular parades featuring massive vibrantly colored floats adorned with elaborate paper-mâché puppets that portray politicians some towering over 20 meters high and 12 meters wide The parades include a procession of 14 large floats with over 250 performers dancing on the main floats The celebration culminates with an awards ceremony for the top-ranked floats Originally started in 1873 as a masquerade event for the wealthy Viareggio's Carnevale has expanded to include street parties known as veglioni colorati where people celebrate in costume with music and dancing through the night a figure that represents the spirit of Viareggio's Carnival hosts the Historic Carnival & Battle of the Oranges a unique and vibrant celebration that dates back to 1808 This festival culminates in a massive orange-throwing battle in the city center where teams reenact a historical revolt against Napoleonic troops Participants who prefer to watch can wear a red Phrygian cap to show they are non-combatants a tradition that honors the spirit of the event without requiring involvement in the orange fight Other festivities start several days before the battle and include historical parades in honor of figures like the Vezzosa Mugnaia (a local heroine) and a traditional meal of polenta and codfish in Piazza Lamarmora This celebration fills Ivrea with the scents and colors of oranges and showcases a fascinating blend of history and tradition has roots going back to the 1600s and features the famous masked character “il Berlingaccio.” The event spans five Sundays leading up to Lent transforming the city into a vibrant parade of music A popular highlight is the “gettito,” where plush toys and inflatable objects are tossed from the towering floats to the crowd below and the Carnival closes with the burning of the “Tasi” mask marking the festival’s end with traditional flair such as Ferrari and Alfa Romeo car parades “Cento Special Comix” adds a pop culture flair inviting comic enthusiasts and cosplay fans to join the carnival spirit The celebration reaches its peak on March 16 with Tasi’s symbolic will reading A full ticket valid for one Sunday is priced at € 18 is one of the country's longest and oldest traditions beginning right after Christmas on December 26 and concluding on Fat Tuesday before Lent The festival dates back to 1394 and is renowned for its extravagant parades of vibrant floats The opening ceremonies include the procession of St during which a candle-passing ritual between local leaders marks a symbolic acceptance of Carnival's spirit of indulgence groups of poets and performers entertain crowds with satirical verses critiquing public figures and past year events each Thursday brings a themed spectacle dedicated to different social groups leading to the most famous “Cuckold Thursday,” with humor and tradition interwoven in playful ceremonies The Bear Festival reflects ancient seasonal beliefs marking the coming of spring with a theatrical performance about a bear’s dual role as friend and adversary ceremoniously transitions Putignano into Lent with dance Earlier this month, the Roman Catholic dioceses of Catania, in Sicily, put a three-year pause on godparents, Jason Horowitz reports at The New York Times "Church officials argue that the once-essential figure in a child's Catholic education has lost all spiritual significance," and that god-parenting has "fallen to earth as a secular custom between relatives or neighbors — many deficient in faith or living in sin and was now a mere method of strengthening family ties He estimated that 99 percent of the diocese's godparents were not spiritually fit for the role Angelo Alfio Mangano at Cataina's Saint Maria in Ognina church said he hopes the pause on godparents will also halt threats "against the parish priest" from questionable characters trying to pressure the priest into naming them godfather That effort was stopped by Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu "now on trial in the Vatican on money laundering charges," who insisted all of Calabria's bishops had to agree to the move From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine Eos When a strong earthquake hits an urban area prompt rescue operations can minimize the number of victims the probability of saving a human trapped under debris or injured during the course of a disaster decreases exponentially as function of time vanishing almost completely after about few hours The Tokyo Fire Fighting Department Planning Section [2002] has quantified this further stating that rescue within 3 hours is desirable and survival rate is drastically lower after 72 hours Past disasters—like the magnitude 6.6 quake that struck Iran on 26 December 2003—support this assessment despite the intervention of 1600 rescuers from 43 nations This tragic outcome is likely related to the fact that many rescuers didn’t arrive until after 3 days The network will not use traditional seismometers; rather they will harness the less expensive technology of accelerometers The impact of a strong earthquake on an urban center can be considerably reduced by an efficient emergency management center through timely and targeted actions immediately following the quake A real-time urban seismic network—sensors laid out in a grid through a city—could help emergency management centers by providing immediate alert and postearthquake information summarized in maps of ground motion Researchers are using new technological advances to develop one such urban seismic network in Acireale it will be the first urban seismic network in Europe Urban seismic networks allow the disaster’s first responders to manage available resources such as personnel and equipment needed to rescue people Rescue operations and verification of damage to buildings could then be carried out according to a logical priority according to where the highest shaking was measured by the seismic network Such an approach would minimize secondary effects induced by an earthquake and allow officials to protect critical infrastructure thereby mitigating the economic and social costs of the earthquake Get the most fascinating science news stories of the week in your inbox every Friday The high costs associated with the construction and installation of traditional seismic stations has made it nearly impossible to realize a true seismic network on an urban scale recent technological developments in the field of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) sensors which can be configured to detect minute accelerations may allow scientists to create an urban seismic network at low cost MEMS sensors are a set of highly miniaturized devices that receive information from the environment and translate physical quantities they sense into electrical impulses Depending on how the sensors are configured they can measure phenomena of various kinds: mechanical (sound optical (intensity of light radiation and spectroscopy) The MEMS devices that will be used in the project integrate a three-axis accelerometer which can measure both constant accelerations (usable as a tilt sensor) and those that vary in time (used to measure the oscillation induced by an earthquake) The sensitivity and the dynamic range of sensors are high enough to allow the researchers to record earthquakes of moderate magnitude even at a distance of several tens of kilometers MEMS sensors revolutionized the automotive airbag system and are today widely used in laptops the sensitivity and the dynamic range of these sensors are high enough to allow the researchers to record earthquakes of moderate magnitude even at a distance of several tens of kilometers [D’Alessandro and D’Anna Because of their low cost and their small size MEMS accelerometers could be easily installed in urban areas to achieve a seismic network with a high density of measuring points managed by the Japan Meteorological Agency [Horiuchi et al. In September 2015, the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research funded a 3-year project to create the first European urban seismic network using MEMS technology The project is called Monitoring of Earthquakes through MEMS Sensors (MEMS project) an urban area particularly vulnerable to earthquake hazards [Azzaro et al. as a pilot site for the MEMS project (Sicily Acireale is located on the southeastern slopes of Sicily’s Etna volcano and is vulnerable to damage from tectonic and volcanic earthquakes Acireale contains many seismically vulnerable buildings of historical and cultural value more than 190 damaging earthquakes have occurred in the Etna region This includes an earthquake sequence that began with a main shock on 29 October 2002—following this magnitude 4.4 event more than 400 buildings in Acireale were declared uninhabitable [Azzaro et al. We aim to develop an urban seismic network comprising about 200 MEMS stations (Figure 2) Each station will consist of a three-axis digital MEMS accelerometer connected to a computer for on-site signals preprocessing Each station will be supplied with a GPS for time synchronization and an Internet connection for data transmission to a processing center the station can function autonomously for about 2 hours thanks to the buffer battery shown in Figure 2 The MEMS stations will be located mainly inside buildings characterized by high vulnerability (old buildings that weren’t built to withstand high shaking) and high flux of people moving in and out The geometry of the network will be designed to create homogeneous coverage of the urban center with a high enough density of stations in the vicinity of the well-known faults The network’s success will depend on our ability to implement algorithms able to prevent false alarms Such algorithms will allow the creation of a shaking map only if a significant percentage of the MEMS stations have simultaneously detected a shaking event—if shaking is human made (e.g. but an earthquake would be recorded by many stations Automatic detection of patterns in waveforms that signal a specific seismic source will also be helpful the network will be operational by the end of 2017 The seismic waveforms captured by the sensors will be processed in real time to identify several shaking parameters that will be used to create shake maps at the urban scale The earthquake waveforms collected by the network will also be used to reconstruct the movement along the faults that caused the earthquakes to map seismic hazards and risks on a fine scale for the area covered The system could be used to implement a site-specific earthquake early warning system [Horiuchi et al. Such a system could enhance the safety margin of specific critical engineered systems—such as energy plants or high-speed railway networks—in real time mitigating the seismic risk by triggering automatic actions that aim to shelter people from exposure to shaking the MEMS project could provide a useful tool to reduce the seismic risk by increasing the safety of the population of the urban area covered by the network Such a system could be quickly extended to other areas of high seismic risk revolutionizing how communities monitor earthquakes Communities would no longer need to focus on the characterization of earthquakes in terms of focus parameters (e.g. networks like the MEMS project would characterize shaking by direct measurements of how shaking affects a city Microzonazione sismica del versante orientale dell’Etna: Studi di primo livello Etna (Italy): The contribution of local fault activity in mid-term assessment The Quake-Catcher Network rapid aftershock mobilization program following the 2010 M 8.8 Maule The Quake-Catcher Network: Citizen science expanding seismic horizons Suitability of low cost 3 axes MEMS accelerometer in strong motion seismology: Tests on the LIS331DLH (iPhone) accelerometer Performance of several low-cost accelerometers Home seismometer for earthquake early warning The Community Seismic Network and Quake-Catcher Network: Enabling structural health monitoring through instrumentation by community participants Tokyo Fire Fighting Department Planning Section (2002) Antonino D’Alessandro, Istituto Nazione di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Rome, Italy; email: [email protected] Tiny accelerometers create Europe’s first urban seismic network 29 (UPI) -- An Italian man made the most of flood waters in Sicily by donning his Speedo trunks and taking a swim down the street Profeta also posted photos of his attempt to surf in the flooded street "Sometimes in Sicily you don't need to go to the beach to have a swim," Profeta wrote on his Facebook page. Sign up for our daily Newsletter and stay up to date with all the latest news You are receiving this pop-up because this is the first time you are visiting our site You are using software which is blocking our advertisements (adblocker) we are relying on revenues from our banners So please disable your adblocker and reload the page to continue using this site.Thanks the aim is to contain the development of rot and the occurrence of physiological changes (chilling phthisis) The formulations consist of natural substances and are divided into an antifungal component thanks to extracts from vegetable matrices and a polysaccharide component due to the presence of pectins obtained from citrus processing waste with a view to a circular economy and environmental sustainability," explains Maria Concetta Strano scientific coordinator of the Top Citrus project The working group consisting of researchers Maria Concetta Strano and scholarship holders Fabrizio Confalone and Federica Tilenni Scaglione contributed to an initial phase of evaluation of different extracts and essential oils by means of tests on artificial substrates and artificially-infected fruit in order to identify and select the substances with the greatest efficacy against green (Penicillium digitatum) and blue mold (P considered the main cause of product loss in the post-harvest processing phase Preliminary tests were also carried out for the production of pectin-based edible coatings into which the selected extracts will be integrated at a later stage "The coated fruits will be stored at the partner company Villari Srl the quality of the product is assessed by means of microbiological with the aim of evaluating the effectiveness of the anti-fungal edible coatings aided by ozone treatment in maintaining quality parameters for longer allowing the shelf-life of the lemons to be extended therefore with the possibility of extending the marketing calendar." The research project is included in measure 16.1 of Regione Sicilia's RDP director of the Euroagrumi Op Consortium of Biancavilla (CT) "We are counting on the effectiveness of this project Never as in this campaign have we perceived the need to deliver produce that guarantees a certain quality in the post-harvest period in order to give assurance to consumers and the big retail chains that the fruit will keep we would probably have had even more satisfactory economic results for POs and traders if the percentages of the deteriorated product had remained below 1% as could be the case following treatments with the molecules studied by CREA researchers," explains Rapisarda "Equally important," adds the Euroagrumi director "is the study on the effects of shading and anti-hail nets (another Top Citrus project) that favor the reduction of sunlight levels on the plants together with the prevention of wounds generated by hail on the fruit The project also includes the selection and qualification of new valuable varieties of pigmented oranges and a seedless lemon We certainly cannot predict the future of the next campaigns but at the moment we trust in the excellent research conducted at CREA OFA in Acireale." An early endingAs reported by the director of the OP the 2024/25 Sicilian citrus fruit campaign is drawing to a close due to a twofold factor relating both to the weather and the good commercial performance of the product which has found a satisfactory location and remuneration director of Consorzio Euroagrumi Op of Biancavilla (CT) the rain gave breathing space to agriculture in general it generated levels of relative humidity that facilitated the proliferation of fungal pathogens responsible for the deterioration and rotting processes of the fruit Traders have in fact received a lot of complaints due to the excessive percentage of rot that is created within a few days of shipment The presence of thorns in some valuable varieties exponentially exacerbated the post-harvest quality problems "An inter-professional agreement with the processing industry would be desirable in such a situation," concludes Rapisarda This would make production prices of derivatives more remunerative and not fluctuate we would have more certainty on the procurement and volumes of the material destined for the processing industry avoiding mutual competition among operators at times when the product is scarce." For more information:Euroagrumi O.PVia C.Colombo, 12495033 Biancavilla (CT) - Italy+39 095 5183839[email protected]www.euroagrumi.it FreshPublishers © 2005-2025 FreshPlaza.com A stunning Italian castle you may have seen on the silver screen is officially on the market. Piazza Agostino Pennisi which appeared in Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather III” Listed at $6,817,407 with Danila Addario of Italy Sotheby’s International Realty And if we got to spend some time luxuriating in this coastal Italian beauty chances are it would be a whole lot more fun than watching “The Godfather III” which is located the city of Acireale in the province of Catania was built in Neo-Gothic style for the Pennisi family Piazza Pennisi welcomes guests at the regal entrance where it’s surrounded by a double row of palm trees You’ll find a marble bust of Baron Pennisi the castle is composed of three joint buildings on two levels and there are also two symmetrical rectangular towers a three-arched portico opens up to the forked marble staircase the epitome of grandeur that feels straight out of “Cinderella” The ceiling of the staircase is wooden coffered and features the initials of the family last name and the coat of arms There are plenty of other old touches of the regal property’s history including a portrait of the Baron Pennisi holding court on the first floor Filled with high ceilings and palatial bedrooms the property also has a sprawling reception hall with a large fireplace that’s engraved with the initials of the family’s surname Five large mullioned windows decorated with columns overlook the 8,500-square-meter park filled with plentiful fauna and mature trees There’s also an extensive amount of art throughout the property many of which are paintings of the famous painter Paul Pennisi a 12-room apartment provides endless living space in case you feel like throwing another decadent party An architecturally-stunning chapel features geometric patterns in gold and blue and frescoes by Giuseppe Sciuti depicting the blue starry sky and saints overhead while a column of pews sits below The towering ceiling creates a strong sense of depth in the intricately-created space Additional features in the property include a wine cellar The castle has been through plenty of chaos in the past It stood tall during the earthquake of 1908 as well as the bombings of World War II that hit Acireale With an outstanding location on the slopes of Mount Etna close to the Ionian Sea Piazza Pennisi could have us jetting off to Sicily in no time Read the commentsFiled in:News The home you love starts here The home you love starts here Apartment TherapyThe wordmark for the Apartment Therapy brand.More From Us By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page The second edition of “La Via del Barocco” Culture The event will begin with the unveiling of the commemorative coat of arms in via Dafnica in Acireale and will end on the morning of 17 September 2023 at 12 pm The setting for the event will be the baroque via Dafnica from the crossroads with via San Martino up to piazza Pasini The event will be presented at a press conference tomorrow in the press event room of the Municipality of Acireale representatives of the artisans and the artists protagonists of the various events within “La via del barocco” will be present One of the main themes is “The Iron Ring” which will involve master forgers from all over Europe The masters of wrought iron will have the opportunity to show their art with the sound of hammers on anvils to create their works in front of visitors curious to observe such mastery We dedicate a few passages of writing to the Iron Ring to talk about history and remind us how the culture of Acireale has been at the forefront of this art in the past and remains so in the present Wrought iron was certainly the first type of steel discovered by chance as a by-product of copper processing after the processing with which it was obtained had to be beaten to remove the slag produced by the mass of external material The first creations of artefacts produced with iron date back to the mid-third millennium in the civilizations of ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt it was decided to use it to arm armies with new super resistant weapons And the use of iron working for war purposes in the world of craftsmanship spread from the Middle East The Hittites used it and only around the year 1000 BC wrought iron reached central and western Europe becoming the natural substitute for copper and bronze the Greeks understood its effectiveness and began to equip their armies with swords and spears despite the fact that it could not be tempered is enriched with carbon through a carburizing process For several centuries iron was used exclusively for the construction of tools and weapons Multiple uses of wrought iron Towards the end of the Middle Ages it began to be used in various alternative uses doors and buildings to ensure adequate security linked to protection against attacks by thieves and enemies The period in which noble families began to use wrought iron for decorative purposes and of architectural value was arrived in Western countries Some of these works have survived to the present day and are available to be admired in many European monuments Examples of wrought iron art are Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris and Winchester in England The peak of the use of wrought iron throughout the world was reached around the 16th century craftsmen created increasingly elaborate and artistic constructions Iron is replaced today by stronger materials In the 18th century the demand for this raw material reached its maximum demand and the construction of gates and railings was becoming established throughout Europe Around 1860 iron began to be used for armored warships and for the construction of railways wrought iron has no longer been produced in the same quantities as in previous eras Though some derivatives of this precious natural mineral are mostly irreplaceable given that most of the iron works are produced by hand using imagination the craftsmen are always “immersed” in the heat of the forge that burns coal to fuel it which serves to keep the fire always alive furniture and other ornamental works are highly appreciated The wrought iron craftsman becomes a “master ironsmith” The craftsman specializes in the forging of artistic wrought iron Wrought iron craftsmen become the heirs of those blacksmiths who decide to pass down this fascinating and centuries-old craft A profession that lies entirely in the manual skill of the worker Acireale presents an exception as it is the birthplace of Giuseppe Contarino son of a family dedicated to the craft of “shoemakers” for a generation Thanks to the scholastic training he learned at the “Città del Fanciullo” steals the profession from his teachers: Mastro Gresti He undertakes and improved the art of the master ironsmith until reaching an excellent level arriving to be classified among the best master ironsmiths in Italy The continuity of the craft also in the Contarino household will constitute a tradition given that Mastro Giuseppe’s artisan work is continued by his son Davide It must be said that Acireale is not new to this ancient profession the Master Ironsmiths Turi Paradiso and his son Angelo should be remembered author of the gate of the real chapel of Santa Venera present inside the Cathedral of Acireale The young Paradiso is also the author of the magnificent gate that surrounds the staircase of the cathedral of San Giorgio in Ragusa Ibla is today “knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic” The title awarded to him at the age of 44 makes him one of the youngest knights in Italy Honor given to him for having distinguished himself in his art and for the mastery with which he was able to create his “creatures” The knight Giuseppe Contarino reaches another milestone on 11 July 2023 which enriches the already extensive list of his artistic career A philatelic dedication wanted by the Italian State belonging to the thematic series “The Natural and Landscape Heritage” dedicated to the Italy of the sea with the issue of a stamp distributed by Poste Italiane The stamp depicts a monumental work created by Contarino and his son Davide Talking about a master blacksmith means finding various arts in a single person: a blacksmith must be not only a manual worker of the material but also an architect an artist who sees beyond the material he has in his hands to create the work of art both for decorating the outside (resistance to bad weather) and the inside (durability over time); and suitable for every style to fully satisfy people’s needs and tastes This material will not be phased out any time soon but will certainly continue to have great value for years to come It’s carnival season in Europe in the lead up to Mardi Gras from festivals dating back centuries to epic parties in Cádiz FranceStarted in the 17th century as a feast to honour local fishermen Dunkirk’s is now one of the biggest – and longest-lasting – parties in France; kicking off in January with weekly grand balls Festivities reach a peak the three days before Ash Wednesday known as Les Trois Joyeuses with costumed bands and parades and a unique local twist involving 450kg of herring So avoid the town hall if you don’t want to get pelted with fish 25-27 February, ot-dunkerque.fr Big Friends Guggen Musik will be the opening act at the Carnival of Flowers in Acireale Guggen Musik will be representing Malta between 27 and 29 April The Acireale Carnival is considered one of the most beautiful in Sicily boasting a number of floats with fresh flowers Big Friends Guggen Musik will present two shows and will close the show with the Carnival anthem The band will also be playing traditional Maltese music which includes traditional pieces such as “Ara ġej il-Karnival” This was the 10th year that the Big Friends Guggen Musik participated in the Carnival of Malta The band played on several occasions in both Malta and Gozo Last year Big Friends Guggen Band celebrated the 10th anniversary since its inception with a program spread throughout the year and which ended on 25 November with an official opening in Floriana’s Ghaqda Muzikali Gozitan conductor Joseph Debrincat will conduct Ruggiero Leoncavallo's opera Pagliacci at the Teatro Maugeri of Acireale He will direct the Orchestra Lirico Sinfonica Belliniana and the 40-strong Gran Coro Lirico Siciliano Taking part will be soprano Emanuela De Santis Salucci tenor Roberto Costi and baritone Angelo Nardinocchi Debricant was invited to conduct the opera by the Associazione Culturale Golfo Mistico of Catania The entire opera company will eventually present Pagliacci and Cavalleria Rusticana at the Aurora Theatre Booking is open at the Aurora Theatre on 2155 9452 and Rain Production Entertainment on 2704 1200 For more information visit www.leone.org.mt please register for free or log in to your account Italy - January 2023 - From January 3 to 5 the teenagers of the Salesian Youth Movement (SYM) of Sicily had the opportunity to confront each other have fun and listen to the formative meetings proposed by the animating team during an animator camp called "Meeting." The main themes were holiness following a moment of animation and launching of the theme in which the participants deepened the theme of Holiness and reflected on their own identity by confronting each other in small groups the importance of the Other; the second led by Salesian Cooperator the words of Pope Francis and Salesian Youth Spirituality The first two days ended with discussions in groups on the issues addressed reciting vespers prayers and experiencing moments of fraternity together with the coordinators listening to testimonies from some young people and participating in the "holiness workshop." On the third day the team members guided the young people to build their own "model" of holiness by comparing themselves with the lives of the saints and their qualities The Meeting concluded with the Eucharistic Celebration Superior of the Salesian Province of Sicily ANS - “Agenzia iNfo Salesiana” is a on-line almost daily publication the communication agency of the Salesian Congregation enrolled in the Press Register of the Tibunal of Rome as n 153/2007 This site also uses third-party cookies to improve user experience and for statistical purposes By scrolling through this page or by clicking on any of its elements Carnival anthem Jgħidu xjuħ u jgħidu tfal was played in Acireale in Sicily last Saturday and Sunday The Big Friends Guggen Musik played the anthem when it participated and provided a Maltese aspect in Acireale’s popular carnival The Maltese carnival anthem was well received by the crowd The Guggen Band will this year participate in Carnival celebrations in Malta and Gozo On Friday at 7.00 pm the band will participate in the Marsa Carnival; on Saturday morning it will play at the national carnival in Valletta and in the evening in Gozo’s carnival in Rabat The band’s participation continues on Sunday at Ħamrun and will provide two musical displays on Monday at Valletta in the morning and in the evening at Għargħur Singer Mark Spiteri Lucas notched another success for himself when he was classified fourth in a contest in Acireale carried the theme L'Anziano nella Società Spiteri Lucas interpreted his own composition "Il Nostro Autunno" with lyrics by Anna Maria Sammut The 20 contestants were backed by a 20-piece orchestra This is the third time that a song by Spiteri Lucas and Sammut made it to the first five places in the festival Neptunes’ youth squad recently had a three-day training camp in Acireale where they were hosted by Sicilian club Pozzillo used the Sicily training stint to step up their preparations for this summer’s ASA junior leagues As the Neptunes and Pozzillo squads trained together could share their knowledge and experience for the benefit of their young charges Neptunes trained twice a day with each session lasting two hours Musumeci is a familiar name in the international waterpolo scene Musumeci was a member of the Italian women’s team that won a gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics and the World Championships in 1998 and 2001 Musumeci also won four European Championships with Italy plus seven Champions Cup and nine league titles with her club Neptunes said that their youths are now looking forward to the return visit of the Pozzillo squad at their Balluta Bay pool during the summer months A light magnitude 1.2 earthquake hit 14.1 km (9 mi) away from Acireale, Sicily,  Italy The quake had a very shallow depth of 6.5 km (4 mi) and was too small to be felt by people A light magnitude 2.1 earthquake hit 9.6 km (6 mi) away from Acireale, Sicily,  Italy The quake had a very shallow depth of 2.1 km (1.3 mi) and was reported felt by some people near the epicenter A light magnitude 2.1 earthquake hit 10.9 km (7 mi) away from Acireale, Sicily,  Italy The quake had a very shallow depth of 2.6 km (1.6 mi) and was reported felt by some people near the epicenter "I would sell my soul to the Devil to keep you safe" he recited Michael Corleone to his daughter mary in the famous film "The Godfather III". On sale today is instead the Don Lucchesi Castle di Acireale in which the film was shot, which over the years has become the only one in the history of movies The buyer who will buy the villa framed by the magnificent Sicilian landscape will surely feel safe, protected by so much untouchable beauty. Francis Ford Coppola made him choose in 1990 for its history a Gianni Pennisi the current owner of the castle who knew the director very well It is precisely in the portico of the castle that the powerful politician Licio Lucchesi was killed by a killer sent by Michael Corleone (Pacino) during one of the most evocative scenes of the film a long avenue populated by tall palm trees accompany towards the inside where they stand out three buildings divided into two levels and with two towers A fascinating marble staircase invites guests to go up to reach the portrait of the barone visible already from the elegant portico The initials of the family surname and the noble coat of arms are engraved on the wooden coffered ceiling that characterizes the whole floor The family is also remembered by the initial of the family surname sul fireplace overlooking the hall lit by five large windows overlooking a park of 8500 square meters of trees and bushes lounges has always been chapel embellished with a representation of saints and the starry sky he was also the protagonist in other famous films including "A beautiful November" di Mauro Bolognini Perhaps this is also what gives it a value of 6 million euros we just have to wait for the beginning of a new family life story Direttore Editoriale: Raffaele Minervini direttore@montenapodaily.com Direttore Responsabile: Cristiano Tassinari Coordinamento: Gianluigi Minervini redazione@montenapodaily.com Proprietario ed editore: Montenapo Daily S.r.l.s @ 2020 - All rights reserved. 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