Ragusa lights up from “Sutta” to “Supra”
This year, from Oct. 4-6, Ibla Buskers 2024 turned its magic on Ragusa “Supra,” a neighborhood with a special history and deeply connected to the city’s rebirth after the devastating 1693 earthquake. In this special edition, the festival brought lights, sounds and energy to the very neighborhood of Upper Ragusa, a place that organizers describe as “struggling,” but saw shining again thanks to the art and vitality of street artists.
With the original spirit of the festival intact, Ibla Buskers 2024 transformed the streets of Ragusa’s “Supra” into a living stage, where performers of all kinds – jugglers, acrobats, musicians and international artists – put on shows capable of awakening the public’s curiosity and enthusiasm, while also attracting new looks at the neighborhood’s historical and artistic attractions. The colors, lights and sounds that filled “Supra” for three days brought new energy to the neighborhood, creating an engaging celebration capable of bringing residents and visitors together in an atmosphere of joy and sharing. The goal of this edition was not only to celebrate art, but also to turn the spotlight on a part of the city that still has so much to offer.
In memory of Henry Blondeau: the festival icon
One of the most poignant moments of this edition was the remembrance of Henry Blondeau, a late 19th-century artist and busker who has now become a symbolic figure for the festival. Blondeau, a Belgian aeronaut, trapeze artist and gymnast, is linked in tragic and romantic ways to Ragusa’s history. During the feast of St. John on September 3, 1890, Blondeau performed a daring show with his hot air balloon. Instead of using the traditional basket, he performed acrobatics suspended on a trapeze, at great height, under the eyes of an ecstatic crowd. That day, however, a strong mistral wind suddenly arose. Despite the risks, Blondeau decided to take to the air anyway, but the aerostat was blown away and crashed tragically on the rocks of the Hyblaean Mountains.
This episode has remained indelible in the city’s historical memory, so much so that when the first edition of Ibla Buskers was born in 1995, his figure and hot air balloon were chosen as the central symbol of the affiche. The festival, just like that hot air balloon, wanted to rise above difficulties and revitalize the Ragusa Ibla neighborhood and its artistic tradition, bringing with it dreams, imagination and the courage to fly high, even in the face of obstacles.
A festival for all: art that unites
As always, Ibla Buskers was able to involve a diverse audience: children fascinated by the acrobatics and colors, adults captivated by the artists’ skill and the timeless atmosphere of Ragusa’s historic streets. Between one show and another, people had the opportunity to rediscover the architectural heritage of the neighborhood, walking among ancient buildings, churches and monuments that tell the story of the city and its inhabitants.
Once again this year, Ibla Buskers was confirmed as a must-attend event, not only for lovers of street art, but for anyone wishing to immerse themselves in the magic of Ragusa Baroque, enriched by the dynamism of the artists and the vitality of the audience.
The 2024 edition represented an important step for the future of the festival, reaffirming its role not only as a cultural event of international significance, but also as a tool to rediscover and enhance the territory in all its forms. Ragusa “Supra” and its community had, thanks to this special edition, a chance to be reborn, just like Henry Blondeau, an eternal symbol of a flight to infinity.
