È online la graduatoria delle selezioni per “Belìce a 1 Euro”!
Un’esperienza autentica nel cuore della Sicilia, al costo simbolico di un euro: questo è lo spirito di “Leisure-learning weekend a 1 Euro nella Valle del Belìce”, l’iniziativa promossa dal GAL Valle del Belìce con operatori turistici e culturali locali.
Dal 22 al 24 agosto 2025, 20 partecipanti vivranno tre giorni tra laboratori pratici guidati da artigiani, cuochi, contadini e produttori, pernottamenti, pasti, escursioni e visite culturali, scoprendo in prima persona i saperi e i sapori della Valle del Belìce.
La graduatoria ufficiale è ora disponibile: scopri se sei tra i selezionati e preparati a un’esperienza indimenticabile tra paesaggi rurali, tradizioni e comunità accoglienti.
👉 Scrivi una mail per ricevere maggiori informazioni
Un’esperienza autentica nel cuore della Sicilia, al costo simbolico di un euro. È questo lo spirito di "Leisure-learning weekend a 1 Euro nella Valle del Belìce", l’iniziativa promossa dal GAL Valle del Belìce in collaborazione con operatori turistici e culturali del territorio.
From August 22 to 24, 2025, 20 adult participants will have the opportunity to take part in a leisure-learning experience — a format that combines travel and education. Participants will engage in hands-on workshops totaling 12 hours, led by local experts — artisans, chefs, farmers, and producers — to explore the traditions and skills of the Belìce Valley in a tangible way: from ceramics to bread making, from coral craftsmanship to Sicilian pastry.
The experience also includes accommodation, meals, excursions, and cultural visits, offering total immersion in the life, landscapes, and communities of the Belìce Valley, located between the provinces of Trapani and Agrigento.
To apply, candidates must fill out the online form between July 28 and August 5, attaching a short motivational video. Selected participants will be asked to document the experience through social media content and take part in a collective video story.
An original and inclusive proposal to tell the story of Sicily’s villages, crafts, and hospitality.
👉 Download the full call and apply here
👉 Scrivi una mail per ricevere maggiori informazioni
Acireale, an elegant town at the foot of Mount Etna overlooking the Ionian Sea, hosts one of the most eagerly awaited folk events in Sicily each year: the Acireale Carnival, often hailed as the most beautiful in Sicily. With roots dating back to the 17th century and a theatrical tradition unique in its kind, the Acireale Carnival is a celebration of art, irony, and creativity.
History and origins of the Acese Carnival
The earliest records of the Acireale Carnival date back to the 17th century, when locals expressed their creativity through citrus-throwing, pranks, and impromptu parades. Over the following centuries, the festival evolved and became institutionalized, turning into one of the community’s most anticipated events and attracting thousands of visitors each year. Since the post-World War II era, the Carnival has been distinguished by the introduction of allegorical-grotesque floats, true papier-mâché works of art blending political satire, social irony, and references to popular culture.
What truly makes the Acireale Carnival unique are the flower-adorned floats, an original local invention: mobile structures entirely decorated with fresh flowers, often featuring moving mechanisms that create spectacular effects both day and night.
The Baroque Center Transforms
During the Carnival, Acireale’s historic center transforms into an open-air theater. Piazza Duomo, Via Ruggero Settimo, Corso Umberto, and Piazza Indirizzo become the main arteries of a multi-day celebration. Floats parade among baroque façades and wrought-iron balconies, accompanied by marching bands, costumed groups, dancers, and street performers. The meticulously crafted scenographies interact with the architecture, creating a striking visual contrast between the lava-stone buildings and the colorful lightness of the festival.
Each float represents months of work by local associations, artists, and volunteers. The compositions, some over 10 meters tall, are animated by lights, sounds, and synchronized mechanical movements, creating astonishing effects that capture the attention of both adults and children.
Flowers, satire, and innovation: the heart of Carnival
The flowered float is the true identity of the Acireale Carnival. Each year, these unique creations celebrate nature, beauty, spring, as well as current events and social themes, expressed through floral symbolism and intricate mechanical designs. Acireale’s master florists work with daisies, carnations, chrysanthemums, broom, and native flowers to create panels that evoke paintings, sculptures, or theatrical scenes.
Alongside the floral beauty, there is the sharp power of grotesque satire: the allegorical floats depict politicians, celebrities, and public figures in a caricatured style, offering a critical yet playful commentary on contemporary society.
An event for all ages
The Acireale Carnival is designed for a wide audience: parades of masked groups, children's shows, exhibitions, food events, and concerts enliven the city for days, culminating in the "Grand Finale" with the awarding of prizes for the most beautiful floats. Participation is felt not only by the residents of Acireale, but also by the entire Etna area, making the event an important moment of cohesion and local identity.
Carnival and cultural tourism
Today, the Acireale Carnival is nationally recognized and ranked among Italy’s most significant carnival events. The festival attracts over 200,000 visitors each year, generating a notable impact on the local economy, particularly in hospitality and craftsmanship. For visitors, it is the perfect opportunity to discover not only the festivities but also the beauties of the Aci area: from the baroque churches to the sea at Santa Maria La Scala, and excursions on the slopes of Mount Etna.
