Infiorata di Noto

Every third Sunday of May, once a year, the “stone garden” — as art critic Cesare Brandi called it — turns into a living canvas filled with people at work and dressed in celebration with the colors and fragrances of flowers.
It’s the Infiorata, an event that pays tribute to the intoxicating beauty of blossoms — a fleeting triumph of color and creativity.
Over four vibrant days, floral artists create intricate petal mosaics, inspired each year by a different theme, from mythology to architecture, all laid out along the famous Via Nicolaci, beneath its baroque balconies adorned with chimeras, sirens, and rampant lions.

A Design Painted with Flower Petals

These floral compositions play with the harmony and contrast of reds, whites, and yellows, blending with the rosy honey tone of Noto’s stone and the visionary Baroque architecture that makes this city the highest expression of an enlightened civilization.

Though the Infiorata tradition is relatively recent — dating back to 1980, born from a brilliant idea to unite flowers and stone — it has become one of the most beloved and iconic events in Sicily, attracting visitors from all over the world who time their travels to witness its ephemeral beauty.

In those days, the infioratori (floral artists) work with passion and precision, their enthusiasm turning into mastery over the years.

The festival begins on Thursday afternoon, when, at sunset, each group lays out its design sketch on the assigned section of the street.
On Friday, the Infiorata reveals itself as an exciting work in progress, watched eagerly by locals and tourists alike.

Who will win the palm of victory this year?

Nothing is left to chance — artists work tirelessly through the night, hands covered in petals, faces marked by effort and joy.
By Saturday dawn, shapes and soft shadows emerge, colors explode against the bright Sicilian sky, fragrances fill the air — and, as every year, the magic begins anew.

Via Corrado Nicolaci: The Heart of the Infiorata

The emotional impact is overwhelming — a succession of “paintings made of flowers” unfolds along the most enchanting street in Noto, where the Church of Montevergine faces the Palazzo Nicolaci, creating a breathtaking baroque stage.

Sixteen large floral panels, inspired by a new theme each year and created entirely from petals…
That’s the Infiorata di Noto — a celebration of art, beauty, and devotion to ephemeral perfection.

It is one of Sicily’s most important cultural events, and over time, the festival has expanded to include side events such as the Baroque Parade, a lively re-enactment of the grandeur of the noble families who once made Noto the jewel of Baroque Sicily.