Discover Floridia: Churches, Museums and Festivals

Floridia can be explored from a range of cultural perspectives: sacred architecture, museums with varied collections, and festivals all shape the themes of a stay. The museums link working life on the Hyblaean Plateau with Floridian traditions and handcrafted objects. Churches and events complement this with architectural history, art and local customs. You can plan your trip according to whether you are more interested in architecture, collections or a festival.

Churches, Architectural History and Art

The Chiesa del Carmine is considered an example of Baroque sacred architecture. Beneath the church is a crypt with an altar and three ossuaries. Ossuaries are used to store human bones; they provide another distinctive feature of the crypt alongside the altar. The Chiesa del Carmine thus combines its classification as a Baroque religious building with a distinctive underground space.

The construction history of the Chiesa Madre spans several stages. Duke Ignazio Migliaccio funded its construction in 1748; a few years later, the church was built in what is now Piazza del Popolo. Its three entrance portals belong to a much later period: the sculptor Romeo Sandrin, who came from Padua, created them between 2003 and 2004. This makes it possible to distinguish the 18th-century funding and construction from the later design of the portals. At the Chiesa Madre, architectural history and a clearly dated sculptural detail come together.

In the heart of the old town, the Galleria civica di arte moderna e contemporanea is housed on the piano nobile of the historic Palazzo “Raeli”. The term refers to the principal floor of a historic palace. The gallery permanently displays significant works by the Floridia-born artists Antonio Brancato, Tano Brancato, Lino Tinè and Turi Volanti. All four are internationally known painters and sculptors. The gallery thus complements the themes of church architecture and urban history with a perspective on art and artists from Floridia.

Museums and Floridian Traditions

The Museo etnografico “Nunzio Bruno” documents the working lives of agricultural laborers and craftspeople on the Hyblaean Plateau. The topics covered also include a traditional Floridian type of bread called “a chicco di grano”. The building has a history of its own: it was created by combining the former district prison and the former Carabinieri barracks. Here, the region’s working life, a local bread tradition and the building’s former uses all come together.

The private Museo Francesco Lombardo di Giuseppe in Floridia offers a different type of collection. Giuseppe Lombardo founded it in 2010 in memory of Francesco Lombardo. The collection includes handcrafted rocking horses, “irti”, carts and carriages, as well as masks called “facceri”. The two museums have different focuses: the Museo etnografico centers on working life and bread traditions, while the Museo Francesco focuses on handcrafted objects, vehicles and masks. Those interested in Floridia’s culture can therefore explore it in different ways, from regional everyday history to specific collection pieces.

Festivals and Travel Planning

During Ascension Week, a bareback horse race takes place along the town’s main street. The Festa dell'Ascensione also includes the blessing of horses in the forecourt of the Chiesa Madre. The festival tradition thus brings together two distinct events: the race on the main street and the blessing in front of the church.

Scialacori, Floridia’s Notte bianca, takes place on the first weekend of September and features nighttime activities in the historic center. The annual program may vary. Unlike the Ascensione, Scialacori focuses on an evening of festivities in the historic center, while the Ascensione is associated with the horse race and the blessing of the horses. If you are planning to travel for one of the festivals, check the dates for the current edition in advance.

When looking for a hotel in Floridia, these highlights can help you decide what to plan your stay around: architectural history and art, the different museum collections or a festival date. Plan your trip according to which of these aspects of Floridia interests you most.

Discover more destinations: Ferla, Melilli, Belvedere, San Corrado Di Fuori, Villasmundo, Rosolini, Arenella, Calabernardo

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