Almond Blossom Festival

Agrigento – Sicily

Every year at the end of February and the beginning of March Sicily celebrates the first almond blossoms of the season at its Almond Blossom Festival.

When Count Alfonso Gaetani initiated the Festa del Mandorlo in Fiore in 1934 his idea was to promote the traditional Sicilian products. The festival started in Naro, a small town 30 minutes’ from Agrigento, where it is still celebrated regularly in the same period, preserving its folkloristic origin.

Agrigento happily adopted the event which offered the possibility of boosting the natural and archaeological beauty of the city and its UNESCO-listed Valley of the Temples.

End of February / Beginning of March

Covered in a wonderful flowery mantle of almond trees, the valley provides the perfect backdrop for this important and unique spring event. Featuring performances by folk groups along the streets, an evening folklore torchlight procession, folk music shows and many tastings of Sicilian specialties, it is a great occasion to be part of the local traditions.

The event begins at sunset with an inaugural torchlight procession starting from the Concordia Temple and ends after ten days with a colourful parade of folk groups and music from the city to the Valley of Temples. The highlight of this Festival of Folklore is the joyful show at the foot of Concordia Temple with the awarding of the prizes to the groups that have best represented their heritage.

Why we think it’s one of the Best Spring Blossom Festivals in Italy?
The festival is held at a perfect time for a tour to Sicily, with less crowds and pleasant temperatures.

Combine the festival with:

Sciacca

Step off the beaten track and onto the streets of Sciacca, a historic spa resort and important fishing port just an hour’s drive from Agrigento on Sicily’s south-western coast. The town makes a nice stop to enjoy a stroll through the medieval centre or to appreciate the lovely views on the harbour from its vast  Piazza Scandaliato square.

Selinunte

Once one of the greatest cities in the world, the vast complex of fields and ruined temples of Selinunte is the largest archaeological park in Europe. The most westerly of the Greek colonies, this is an enchanting place to wander, particularly in springtime, when the wildflowers are in full bloom.

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Cherry Blossom Festival

Vignola – Emilia Romagna

The blossoming Vignola’s cherry trees are a lovely sight in Emilia-Romagna, when, for a short while in spring, the cherry orchards appear to be swathed in a rose-tinted snowfall.

Vignola sits on the left bank of the River Panaro, about 20 km west of Bologna. Cherries have grown in the mild climate of this area since Roman times. Cultivation of the small succulent fruit, however, only began in the nineteenth century and today this small town is known as Italy’s Cherry Capital.

From mid-March to mid-April

The Cherry Blossom Festival has been held here since 1970. Every year from mid-March to mid-April, when the sweet cherry trees are in full bloom, Vignola’s Festa dei Ciliegi in Fiore offers an exciting programme of parades of brightly decorated floats, music, exhibitions, special restaurant menus and various other activities to enjoy.

Emilia Romagna is considered Italy’s gourmet centre, make sure you don’t miss sampling the culinary delights served at numerous stalls along the streets. And whilst you are in Vignola, the Palazzo Barozzi with its famous spiral staircase and the Castle of Vignola are also worth a visit.

Why we think it’s one of the Best Spring Blossom Festivals in Italy?
Thanks to the location of the festival, in the heart of Emilia Romagna, it easy to combine with visits to the cultural cities Bologna, Parma and Modena.

Combine the festival with:

Modena

Hometown of the tenor Luciano Pavarotti and the iconic car maker Enzo Ferrari, Modena offers even more than arias or revving engines! Located between the prosciutto capital of Parma and Bologna, famous for its Bolognese pasta sauce, Modena and its precious balsamic vinegar fit in just fine in this hotspot of culinary pleasures. Although the town’s real appeal is strolling through the medieval centre with its beautiful cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the finest examples of Romanesque buildings in Italy.

Balsamic Vinegar Producer

For many producers of the traditional aceto balsamico tradizionale di Modena vinegar-making is still a family affair. Modena’s renowned high-quality balsamic vinegar is a result of great dedication, passion, and competence. Visit a producer and learn how the rich, syrupy liquid is made. It is an exciting experience to be walked through the fermentation process, during which the vinegar is aged in a series of wooden barrels from ten to 25 years. Its distinctive taste and flavour can be sampled during a tasting of different varieties of the final product.

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Camellia Exhibition

Locarno – Lake Maggiore

There is no better way to celebrate the arrival of spring than amidst a colourful and fragrant sea of flowers. Camellias, mimosas, magnolias, rhododendrons, azaleas, the sunny Swiss town of Locarno attracts visitors from all over the world to admire its famous maze of blooms.

The Camillia Exhibition “Camelie Locarno” represents the most important European exhibition dedicated to this Asian flower. It is held in Locarno’s charming Camellia Park, one of the richest of its kind in the world, which covers an area of ​​ten thousand square metres and offers over a thousand plants and almost as many varieties of camellias.

End of March

The park provides a stunning setting for this spring event on the shores of lovely Lake Maggiore. Especially in springtime, visitors can marvel at the blooming beauty of this garden. The exhibition of almost 250 varieties of Camellias and beautifully arranged floral decorations is the highlight of the festival which takes place every year at the end of March.

The exhibition also features side events such as the camellia market, tea tastings, concerts and shows.

Why we think it’s one of the Best Spring Blossom Festivals in Italy?
Italy’s Lake District is a spectacular destination, even more so in springtime. During the festival you can witness the awakening of nature on Lake Maggiore.

Combine the festival with:

Borromean Islands

Lake Maggiore simply sparkles in the spring sun. Jump on a boat in Stresa or Verbania and sail through the glittering waters to the picturesque Borromean Islands. Beautiful Isola Bella is dominated by its sumptuous Baroque palace and luxuriant Italian-style gardens. Isola dei Pescatori, once a fisherman’s island and Hemingway’s favourite Borromean Island, is a charming place and a worthwhile stop to wander its narrow alleyways. The small paradise of Isola Madre is the largest of the islands featuring a botanical garden with azaleas, rhododendrons, camellias, and ancient wisteria.

Centovalli Train

The Camellia Exhibition can be reached by train on the scenic Centovalli Railway which links Domodossola in Italy to the Swiss town of Locarno. It is a fascinating ride through ‘a hundred valleys’, crossing no fewer than 83 bridges and viaducts and passing quaint mountain villages.