A Month of Art, Nature, and Tradition
Agrigento, the Italian Capital of Culture 2025, offers a rich program of events in May, ranging from music and theater to gastronomy and nature experiences. Here’s what you can look forward to this month:
May 1, 2025
Picnic in the Valley of the Temples
Celebrate May 1st in a breathtaking natural setting. Follow the path down from the Temple of the Dioscuri to reach the ancient Kolymbethra citrus grove, where the air is filled with the scent of orange blossoms. You can also explore the Akragas springs and visit the fascinating Kolymbethra-Porta V Hypogeum, guided by expert speleologists.Beyond the garden, a short walk takes you to the Temple of Vulcan, offering a stunning view of the entire Valley of the Temples.For lunch, you can book a picnic basket or use a small equipped area among the orange trees, perfect for sharing a homemade meal with loved ones.📍 Giardino della Kolymbethra🔗 Info: www.giardinodellakolymbethra.it🎟 Organized by: FAI – Fondo per l’Ambiente Italiano
The Culture of Listening – Urban Interaction by Klangforum Wien
🎶 A unique sound experience: members of the Klangforum Wien ensemble will create a sonic map across different locations in Agrigento’s historic center, connecting with the city's spaces and people.📍 Various locations in Agrigento’s historic center🕖 19:00-21:00
May 3, 2025
The Culture of Listening – Symposium by Klangforum Wien
A seven-hour contemporary music session, accompanied by wine tastings in a relaxed atmosphere with cushions and futons.📍 Teatro dell’Efebo, Agrigento🕖 19:00-01:00
May 4, 2025
A Landscape to Taste
Every first Sunday of the month, enjoy local product tastings, themed tours, meetings, and workshops at the Kolymbethra Garden. A journey through flavors and history to rediscover the richness of the Sicilian territory.📍 Giardino della Kolymbethra🔗 Info: www.giardinodellakolymbethra.it🎟 Organized by: FAI – Fondo per l’Ambiente Italiano
May 5-21, 2025 | 17:00-19:00
The Silent Room v05
Workshops and interactive sessions by Nathalie Harb, Pamela Erbetta, Lea Kayrouz, Alex Tzortsis de Paz, Youmna Saba, Maurizio Tedesco, and Michele Piccione, leading up to the grand opening of the Silent Room.📍 Various locations in Agrigento
May 6-7, 2025
Theater Play: "Gente di Facili Costumi"
A performance as part of the Luigi Pirandello Theater Foundation’s season.📍 Teatro Luigi Pirandello, Agrigento🔗 Info: fondazioneteatropirandello.it
May 8, 2025
Inauguration: "We Are All Migrants"
A symbolic sculpture by Edoardo Malagigi, reflecting on the universal theme of migration.📍 Piazza Pirandello, Agrigento📅 Exhibition until December 31, 2025
May 9-11, 2025
Mini Festival: The Treasure of Italian Roots – The Beauty that Nourishes the Land
A journey through flavors, traditions, and innovation in the heart of the Valley of the Temples. This event, promoted by DOP and IGP consortia and the DIODOROS brand, aims to enhance the territory and promote sustainable tourism.📍 Via Atenea & Casa Diodoros, Valley of the Temples Archaeological Park
May 11, 2025 | 10:00-13:00
The Path of Aromas
🌿 Aromatherapy workshops exploring the therapeutic power of nature. Reservation required.
May 14-16, 2025
The Value of Classicism in Garden and Landscape Culture: The Ancient as a Timeless Model
📍 Polo Territoriale Universitario di Agrigento🎟 Organized by: Department of Architecture & Department of Agricultural, Food, and Forestry Sciences
May 15-16, 2025
Telling Agrigento: Real and Imaginary Places
📖 Literature and performances to narrate Agrigento and its landscapes.📍 Polo Territoriale Universitario di Agrigento🎟 Organized by: Department of Humanities
May 18, 2025 | 18:30
H - I AM I
A performance by Simone Valsecchi.📍 Pietro Griffo Archaeological Museum, Agrigento
May 18, 2025
Walking Through Biodiversity – Sunrise at Kolymbethra
🌱 A special morning session of yoga, meditation, and gentle awakening of the senses, surrounded by the sounds of nature—birds chirping, frogs croaking, and trees in bloom.📍 Giardino della Kolymbethra & Gardens of Villa Genuardi, Agrigento🔗 Info: www.giardinodellakolymbethra.it🎟 Organized by: FAI – Fondo per l’Ambiente Italiano
A Month of Art, Nature, and Tradition
In May 2025, Agrigento offers an extensive cultural program featuring music, theater, exhibitions, installations, and immersive experiences. Here's what’s happening throughout the month!
Ongoing Events Throughout the Month
Every Friday | 19:00
Living Diodoros: Fridays of Biodiversity – Stories, Flavors, and Territory
An exploration of biodiversity, history, and gastronomy in the heart of the Valley of the Temples.📍 Casa Diodoros, Valley of the Temples Archaeological Park
March 20 – September 20, 2025
Installation: "Temple of Tetrapak"
🛕 Inspired by the columns of the Temple of Concordia, artist Edoardo Malagigi creates three monumental columns made from recycled Tetrapak cartons.📍 Agrigento
April 18 – September 20, 2025
Installation: "End Game"
🤥 A key piece of Edoardo Malagigi’s project, this anti-militarist Pinocchio sculpture is crafted from recycled plastic, serving as a powerful environmental and social statement.📍 Piazza Pirro Marconi, Agrigento
May 2025
Musical for Schools – A New Production by Marco Savatteri
🎭 A special musical performance designed for schools, curated by the Valley of the Temples Archaeological and Landscape Park.🔗 Info: www.parcovalledeitempli.it
January – June 2025
Exhibition: "Agrigento and the Chiaramonte – Power, Magnificence, and Devotion"
🏰 An in-depth journey into Medieval Agrigento and the powerful Chiaramonte family, featuring a rich historical exhibition.📍 Ex Monastero Santo Spirito & Church of San Lorenzo, Agrigento🔗 Info: www.museodiocesanoag.it
January – November 2025
Cultural Routes: "AGRIGENTO_Beyond the Valley – Art & Faith Tours"
⛪ A guided exploration of Agrigento’s religious and artistic heritage, featuring iconic landmarks such as:
The Cathedral (Towers, Sarcophagus Room, Crypt, City View)
The Diocesan Museum
The Church of Santa Maria dei Greci
🔗 Info: www.museodiocesanoag.it
January – December 2025
Educational and Cultural Theater
🎭 A year-round program of theatrical performances and cultural events at Agrigento’s most prestigious theater.📍 Teatro Luigi Pirandello, Agrigento
January – December 2025
Exhibition: "Secret Agrigento – Ancient Roots"
🏺 Discover hidden treasures of Agrigento’s history through this fascinating exhibition on ancient heritage.📍 Caserma della Questura, Agrigento🔗 Info: www.parcovalledeitempli.it
May 2 – May 30, 2025
Exhibition: "Marian Treasures – Ex-Voto of the Immaculate"
✨ A collection of ex-voto offerings dedicated to the Virgin Mary, revealing centuries of religious devotion.📍 Conventino Chiaramontano, Basilica of the Immaculate, Agrigento🔗 Info: www.museodiocesanoag.it
May 26 – June 1, 2025
Second International Opera Singing Competition "Valley of the Temples"
🎶 An extraordinary event celebrating lyrical opera talents from around the world.📍 Teatro Luigi Pirandello, Agrigento
January – May 2025
Exhibition: "The 20th Century of Foundations – From Giorgio De Chirico to Lucio Fontana"
🖼 A journey through the masterpieces of 20th-century Italian art, featuring Giorgio De Chirico, Lucio Fontana, and more.📍 Villa Aurea, Agrigento🔗 Info: www.parcovalledeitempli.it
January – May 18, 2025
Exhibition: "From Girgenti to Munich, from Munich to Agrigento – The Panitteri Vase Collection"
🏺 A unique display of ancient ceramics, tracing historic exchanges between Sicily and Germany.📍 Pietro Griffo Archaeological Museum, Agrigento🔗 Info: www.parcovalledeitempli.it
More Cultural Events in Agrigento – May 2025 and Beyond
Agrigento’s rich cultural program continues with exhibitions, workshops, performances, and seminars exploring themes of heritage, migration, identity, and community. Here’s what’s on:
March 1 – May 31, 2025
Water Project (Progetto Acqua)
An exploration of water as a cultural, environmental, and historical element through exhibitions and events.
May 2 – November 29, 2025
Exhibitions: "Culture, Landscape, Community"
🌏 A collection of exhibitions examining the relationship between culture, environment, and human settlements, featuring:
Varanasi: A Journey into the Infinite – A visual and spiritual journey into one of the world's oldest cities.
New Cities Built from Scratch – Analyzing futuristic urban developments such as Astana, Forest City, Nusantara, Songdo, and The Line.
📍 Curated by: Superintendence of Cultural Heritage of Agrigento, Farm Cultural Park, in collaboration with the City of Agrigento, Valley of the Temples Archaeological Park, and the City of Aragona.
"Skilled Hands" – Workshops on the Art of Metal Chiseling
🔨 Hands-on educational workshops exploring the traditional craft of chiseling and metalwork.📍 Curated by: Archdiocese of Agrigento, Diocesan Museum, Anthos_Agrigento Oltre la Valle, Ecclesiaviva🔗 Info: www.museodiocesanoag.it
Dynamic Exhibition: "Patrons and Protectors" – Community and Identity
🕊️ A multimedia exhibition showcasing local patron saints and protectors, emphasizing community identity and shared traditions.
Earth Project (Progetto Terra)
🌍 A deep dive into the spiritual, historical, and environmental significance of land and territory.📍 Curated by: Archdiocese of Agrigento, Diocesan Museum, Diocesan Archive & Library, Italian Episcopal Conference, Confraternities, and Committees📅 March – June 2025 | 📍 Villa Genuardi, Agrigento & Ex Auditorium, Aragona
February 15 – May 30, 2025
Photography Exhibition: "Virgo Fidelis"
📸 A photo exhibition dedicated to the Patron Saint of the Carabinieri Corps, exploring the values of faith and service.📍 Provincial Command of the Carabinieri, Agrigento🔗 Info: www.museodiocesanoag.it
February – November 2025
"Mobility and (Dis)Rootedness" – A Program on Migration and Identity
🚶♂️ A series of events exploring migration and its impact on identity and belonging.📍 Curated by: Department of Cultures and Society, University of Agrigento
"Agrigento Capital of Culture: Sport as a Driver of Social Growth"
⚽ A research and event series examining the role of sports in community development and inclusion.📍 Curated by: Department of Psychological, Educational, Exercise, and Training Sciences📍 Polo Territoriale Universitario di Agrigento
March – December 2025
Opera in Theater 2025
🎭 A year-long program of opera performances and theatrical productions at the prestigious Luigi Pirandello Theater.📍 Teatro Luigi Pirandello, Agrigento
April – May 2025
Interdisciplinary Seminars: Ancient Philosophy and Modern Social Practices
📚 "Roots: From Empedocles to Community Welfare" – A seminar series bridging ancient wisdom with contemporary social welfare models.📍 Curated by: Department of Psychological, Educational, Exercise, and Training Sciences📍 Basilica Cathedral, Agrigento🔗 Info: www.museodiocesanoag.it
May – December 2025
S.U.D. International Festival – A Creative Lab on the Cultural and Social Dimensions of the South
🌍 A festival exploring the cultural identity of Southern regions, addressing historical, social, and artistic evolutions.📍 Curated by: Department of Cultures and Society📍 Polo Territoriale Universitario di Agrigento
In-Depth Features: Artists, Venues, and Cultural Residencies
Agrigento’s Capital of Culture 2025 program is enriched by exclusive artistic residencies, unique venues, and internationally acclaimed artists. Let’s take a closer look at some highlights!
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Artist in Residence: Rafael Y. Herman – Sky Reserve
🌌 A Visionary Art Residency in Lampedusa
Renowned for his innovative approach to perception and light, Rafael Y. Herman is an artist who works with darkness, nightscapes, and unseen realities.
📍 In Lampedusa, he will create a site-specific exhibition and a land art installation, blending nature, light, and the island’s unique atmosphere. This residency is expected to produce a breathtaking visual dialogue between the cosmos and the land.
Discover the Venue: Teatro dell’Efebo
🎭 An Ancient Quarry Turned Open-Air Theater
The Teatro dell’Efebo is a hidden gem nestled within the Botanical Garden of Agrigento, on the southern slopes of the Rupe Atenea.
🔨 Once an ancient quarry, where blocks of sandstone were extracted to build the city’s temples, the area has now been transformed into an open-air theater. Thanks to recent restoration and safety works, it has become a cultural hub for performances, concerts, and artistic events.
🌿 A must-visit location for an immersive artistic experience in nature!
Meet the Artist: Simone Valsecchi
🎨 A Visionary in Fashion, Theater, and Art
Simone Valsecchi, born in 1973, is a multifaceted visual artist and researcher, with a background in set design from the Brera Academy of Fine Arts in Milan.
👗 He has worked in the fashion industry with Gianfranco Ferré, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Reporter, and Convivio, while also serving as a costume designer at the Piccolo Teatro di Milano.
🎭 His expertise extends to theater and film, collaborating with directors Luca Ronconi and Peter Greenaway.
👘 A passionate vintage collector, he owns museum-quality garments from the 7th century to the present day. His work has been featured in exhibitions such as Museo Millemiglia and Museo Fortuny.
🌍 In 2024, he worked on Turandot at the Gran Teatro La Fenice in Venice, and in 2025, he will be a key artistic contributor to Agrigento’s Capital of Culture program.
Deep Dive into the Projects: Innovation, Performance, and Tradition
Agrigento 2025 is not just about events—it's a cultural revolution. Through innovative artistic installations, performances, and immersive experiences, the city reimagines space, identity, and connection.
Explore the Project: The Silent Room v05
🤫 A Space for Reflection, Reconnection, and Community Healing
The Silent Room v05 project delves into the urban and social fabric of Agrigento, examining housing stratification and its effects on human relationships within an increasingly fragmented community.
🏛️ Over the centuries, Agrigento’s neighborhoods developed around the Valley of the Temples, an area so vast and mentally imposing that it created separation rather than unity among residents. Without shared symbols to represent the community as a whole, individual identities remain isolated, leading to a silent indifference between districts.
🔹 The Silent Room is a response to this divide:
A timeless yet spatially grounded sanctuary for reconciliation.
A symbolic refuge, questioning who has the right to rest in a protected space—a metaphor for the city itself.
A communal nest, built from diverse materials, where events will foster interaction, breaking social barriers and encouraging unity.
🌍 This project challenges the current social disconnection, offering an opportunity to rethink community belonging in Agrigento.
Explore the Project: H-IamI
🔬 A Symbolic Journey through Art, Science, and Nature
Set between the Pietro Griffo Archaeological Museum and the Valley of the Temples, H-IamI by Simone Valsecchi is an immersive performance blending art, science, and metaphysical reflection.
🌀 Key Themes:
Hydrogen as the essence of life – The performance explores hydrogen, the most abundant element in the universe, as a symbol of connection and unity.
Identity and interdependence – The show invites the audience to reflect on the links between humanity, energy, and existence.
🎭 The Experience:
A silent yet powerful live performance, where the actors communicate without words, immersing the audience in a multi-sensory emotional journey.
Scenic objects from the performance will transform into an immersive art installation, turning performance fragments into "contemporary archaeological relics."
🌿 A call to look beyond the visible, rediscovering our connection with nature and each other. Agrigento 2025 awaits to offer you this transformative and poetic experience.
Explore the Project: Liolà Fest
🎭 A Celebration of Luigi Pirandello and the Joy of Life
📅 May 28-30, 2025 | 📍 Teatro Luigi Pirandello & Historic Center of Agrigento
Agrigento pays tribute to its literary legend, Luigi Pirandello, with the Liolà Fest, a vibrant festival inspired by one of his most playful and free-spirited characters, Liolà.
🌟 What to Expect:
A multidisciplinary festival merging theater, music, dance, painting, literature, and contemporary arts.
An open creative lab bringing together young artists from around the world.
Workshops, performances, and immersive experiences celebrating the authentic bond between man and nature.
🎭 Special guest artists include:
Paride Benassai
Gianfranco Jannuzzo
Alessandra Salerno
Lucia Sardo
☀️ Three days of pure artistic energy under the Sicilian sun, rediscovering joy, spontaneity, and the beauty of life.
Explore the Project: Isola Ferdinandea
🌊 A Submarine Adventure into Sicily’s Hidden Volcanic World
The Isola Ferdinandea project offers visitors a one-of-a-kind scuba diving experience, exploring the remnants of one of Sicily’s most mysterious natural phenomena. This initiative highlights an uncharted dimension of the island, unveiling the wonders of an underwater volcanic ecosystem.
🔥 A Brief History of Isola Ferdinandea:
Born from an underwater volcanic eruption in 1831, the island quickly emerged off the coast of Sicily.
Within months, it disappeared beneath the waves, leaving behind only its submerged volcanic remains.
Today, it forms part of the Empedocles underwater volcanic complex, a stunning landscape of black basalt, marine vegetation, coral formations, and diverse marine life.
🤿 The Experience:
Starting in May, the project will offer 20 exclusive scuba diving expeditions, running twice a month until September.
Each dive includes:
Boat transfer to the dive site
Full diving equipment
Guidance from a professional dive-master
🔍 This underwater journey blends adventure, scientific discovery, and cultural heritage, allowing divers to witness the breathtaking hidden landscapes of Sicily’s volcanic seabed.
📩 For reservations: info@agrigento2025.org
Explore the Project: The Piazzas of the Capital
📖 A Literary Journey Through Agrigento’s Cultural Landmarks
The Strada degli Scrittori, the literary heart of Agrigento, presents Le Piazze della Capitale, an immersive experience that brings to life the places and stories that shaped the greatest writers of the 20th century.
✍️ From page to reality, retracing the footsteps of:
Luigi Pirandello
Leonardo Sciascia
Andrea Camilleri
Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa
🏰 A Theater Under the Open Sky:Each piazza becomes a living stage, where visitors will explore castles, churches, theaters, and mines, discovering the landscapes and history that inspired Sicily’s literary legends.
🎭 A Rich Cultural Program:
Meetings with contemporary authors
Literary readings and performances
Theatrical productions
Film screenings and discussions
🌍 Transforming Agrigento into a Vibrant Piazza of Culture!Agrigento 2025 invites travelers, students, and literature lovers to embark on this extraordinary journey of stories and passion. 📚✨
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