The origins of the almond blossom festival
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Agrigento's almond blossom festival was born in the nearby town of Naro.
The origins of this event, which today takes on an international character, date back to February 27, 1938. On this date the first almond blossom festival took place in Naro. The event, born as a simple form of entertainment, took place in the Paradise Valley, full of flowering almond trees. It was born as a festival linked to the environment and to the alternation of the seasons, and welcomed spring with Sicilian carts full of flowers, women in costume, and musicians.
In 1940 from Naro, at the behest of the creator of the festival Alfonso Gaetani, a Sicilian cart set off followed by a procession in costume, which reached the Temple of Concordia in Agrigento, where a great party. By political will or for logistical factors, the party was transferred to Agrigento from that year.
Here, over the course of the years, it was transformed from a simple village festival to an international event: Mandorlo in Fiore.
For several years, to commemorate and continue the tradition of the first Festival, Naro has been celebrating the flowering of the almond tree with the event Narese Spring.
