Nivarata – My experience at the international Festival of Sicilian Granita held in Acireale
Nivarata – the international Festival of Sicilian Granita takes place in Acireale, a beautiful town just a few kilometers from Catania.
I loved exploring the historic centre of Acireale while in the area for this event.
First stop? Villa Belvedere!
Just arrived in #Acireale for the #Nivarata!
Tons of #granita waiting for us…
First stop, Villa Belvedere XD #Sicily #Nivarata2018 #HeartsOfMineTravels pic.twitter.com/u8oAWZ2zrQ— Miss Rail @Hearts of Mine (@Hearts0fMine) 27 maggio 2018
Beautiful view from Villa Belvedere!#Nivarata #Acireale #Seaside #Views #HeartsOfMineTravels pic.twitter.com/79pFkwlgVC
— Miss Rail @Hearts of Mine (@Hearts0fMine) 27 maggio 2018
In Piazza Duomo, where the Nivarata was held, is located Acireale’s Cathedral.
Beautiful on the outside…
Cathedral of Maria S. S. Annunziata in #Acireale (front) #HeartsOfMineTravels #AwesomeChurches #PlaceOfPeaceAndPrayer pic.twitter.com/U9sKA27Kmf
— Miss Rail @Hearts of Mine (@Hearts0fMine) 27 maggio 2018
Cathedral of Maria S. S. Annunziata in #Acireale (side) #HeartsOfMineTravels #AwesomeChurches #PlaceOfPeaceAndPrayer pic.twitter.com/3MJCzKytZv
— Miss Rail @Hearts of Mine (@Hearts0fMine) 27 maggio 2018
…stunning on the inside!
Cathedral of Maria S. S. Annunziata in #Acireale (interior) #HeartsOfMineTravels #AwesomeChurches #PlaceOfPeaceAndPrayer pic.twitter.com/7jJSMkJw3q
— Miss Rail @Hearts of Mine (@Hearts0fMine) 27 maggio 2018
And last but not least, the Bishop Palace in Piazza Duomo:
…and right beside it, the Bishop Palace ^_^#HeartsOfMineTravels #Acireale #Nivarata2018 pic.twitter.com/UtvQTsYjgp
— Miss Rail @Hearts of Mine (@Hearts0fMine) 27 maggio 2018
Back to the “Nivarata” part of my day in Acireale!
The event it’s a 7 years running festival offering immaginative variations on the traditional Sicilian Granita’s recipes, made with seasonal and natural ingredients.
Granita’s classic flavours are also available but the main focus is on the many special recipes presented by Master Granita Makers competing for the “Granita of the year” Award.
Thirteen Master Granita Makers that competed this year are italians, one is from the UK (Seb Cole of Boho Gelato in Pool Valley, Nivarata has a partnership with the Brighton and Hove Drink Festival) and one from Japan (mother and son pair Mariko/Shoei Nakagawa of Gelateria Simpachi).
15 kinds of granita to choose from!
OMG #SugarRush #HeartsOfMineTravels #HeartsOfMineEats pic.twitter.com/0IaKP9VdFY— Miss Rail @Hearts of Mine (@Hearts0fMine) 27 maggio 2018
The prize is assigned by a technical panel AND by Nivarata’s visitors that can cast their vote on Nivarata official site.
I shared the experience with my family and the first thing we decided to do was look up the historical exhibition set up for the festival.
I’ve been eating granita every summer since I was a little girl but I didn’t know the history behind it!
Here’s what I learned:
The name “Nivarata” comes from the long lost profession of “Nivaroli” that were responsible for collecting winter snow on mountains.
They preserved it all year in large ditches dug in the ground called “Neviere” and they carried it in jute bags, packed in bales covered with ferns and straw, to major settlements with carts or mules.
That snow was sold in the summer and was often used to prepare a refreshing lemon flavored icy beverage, the Lemon Granita!
Outside the exhibition there also was a live demostration and people could watch the entire procedure and taste the result but I wasn’t able to record it.
I found a video on youtube that shows how they did it though:
The italian text you see in the video explains how the “bales of snow” were cut and placed into a chestnut wood bucket.
Inside the bucket was placed a special tin churn precursor of the contemporary “ice-cream churn” containing a solution made of water, sugar and lemon.
Then they added salt into the bucket to lower the freezing point of water and make the granita!
After the demonstration we purchased our ticket to taste all the granita flavours available not because I have the biggest sweet tooth ever…I just wanted to be fair while casting my vote!! LOL.
5 out of the 15 flavours available ^_^#Nivarata #Acireale #SweetThings #HeartsOfMineEats pic.twitter.com/fXj34o1XA3
— Miss Rail @Hearts of Mine (@Hearts0fMine) 20 giugno 2018
Unfortunately the flavour I enjoyed most (number 12 with bergamot and almonds) didn’t win, the prize was awarded to number 11 “Calabrisella” made of orange, bergamot, liquorice, sugar and water.
The experience was LOTS of fun, I recommend visiting if you are in the area for next year’s event and you want to experience something different while visiting the beautiful city of Acireale.
I have to say though, the experimental granitas have close to nothing in common with the original flavours and the quality of classic Granita made in Sicily.
If you want to taste the delicious original sicilian Granita just enter any bar/ ice-cream shop all over the province of Catania and ask for a brioche “co tuppu” which means “with peak”…You won’t be disappointed!
My favorite summer breakfast!#SweetThings #SicilianLifestyle #SummerLoving #HeartsOfMineEats pic.twitter.com/i4q3qklMWk
— Miss Rail @Hearts of Mine (@Hearts0fMine) 23 giugno 2018
