Many of us had the opportunity to witness a spectacular event on Instagram and Facebook yesterday! It was an event that will live long in my mind. This was the culmination of a five-city tour of the movie “Devotion” the story of Dolce & Gabbana. It was a love story for Sicily.
People waited in long lines in Piazza Trinità to grab tickets for the event of the year by Polizzi Generosa, namely the film “Devotion” by Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana. Since the early hours of dawn, many people stormed the square for the opening of the Info Point. The 700 applicants arrived around noon. In addition to the issue of the single ticket, the delivery of the related Covid-19 self-declaration form to be completed and presented for entry.
Given the number of seats in the square and the number of people booked, the film was screened in three sessions with the first show starting at 9.15 pm.
Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca were special guests of Domenico and Stefano. They were there to celebrate Domenico’s birthday and to join the family and to participate in many events.
After the squares of Syracuse, Caltagirone, Castellammare del Golfo and Palermo, the Dolce & Gabbana tour ended in Polizzi Generosa, the birthplace of Domenico Dolce, in the fifth stage of the most beautiful places in Sicily. Devotion was a great success with the public. “Devotion” reflects the history, originality and love of Dolce for his country, together with his inseparable colleague Stefano Gabbana, “Sicilian by adoption”.
The event brought an influx of people, from the early hours of the day. They guys spent part of the day walking around the town and meeting the people. Stopping to take photos with anyone who asked them. Piero had a great time traveling around town in a truck decorated with the colors of Sicily. He was accompanied by some of the Dolce family. Gianluca walked around town and stopped to take some interesting pictures including one of him on a balcony posing as the Holy Father at a Sunday Angelus! And Ignazio walked around the town stopping to talk to people along the way. There was a big treat for Piero when the local Pastry shop brought him some yummy treats.
From the balcony of Domenico’s house, the guys sang, “Grande Amore” and was accompanied by the whole town. And the highlight of the afternoon was Ignazio singing with the Gabbana children. I don’t know who had more fun! Ignazio or the kids. I haven’t seen the boys have this much fun in a long time.
During the week Domenico Dolce shuttled between his town and the first four Sicilian stops and, inaugurated the Dolce Foundation, and in the context he celebrated his 62nd birthday among his fellow citizens, with party, joy, and the music of Riccardo Termini another Polizzano artist now known to all who, with his friscaletto (wind instrument, typical Sicilian) played in a week of joy for everyone.
The parade commenced with Domenico walking through the town with Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca. Then the festivities began. Spectacular performances by Sicilian folklore groups. Men and women in traditional Sicilian costumes danced to traditional folklore music. Their costumes were all the splendid colors of Sicily. The horses were in grand regalia. Domenico’s family and the guys watched all the events below from the balcony.
After dinner everyone sang Happy Birthday to Domenico and the guys presented Domenico with a painting by Fabio Ingrassia. The painting depicts Domenico at 6 years old making his first trousers helped by tailors from his fathers’ tailor shop. On Instagram, Gianluca points out one of the men in the painting which looks very much like Fabio Ingrassia. A statement in the painting! Why not, all great artists, represent themselves in their work. After the presentation, Piero sang a beautiful, Sicilian, folk song for Domenico.
In the evening everyone went to the square to watch the movie which was followed by a grand fireworks display. As Ignazio was watching and, recording he was singing along with the music some of the old Sicilian songs.
The event was a Testimonial of Sicily in Italy and in the world. A truly once in a lifetime event and we got to witness it along with our dear guys!! Thank you for bringing us along!
Credit to owners of all photos and videos.