Agrigento Capital of culture 2025:JUNE HIGHLIGHTS, PROJECTS AND EVENTS

June 1, 2025

"Appointment in the Garden" 🌿A celebration of gardens, inspired by the European initiative "Rendez-vous aux Jardins". The event features:

• Guided tours with a focus on nature and botany
• Workshops for children
• Storytelling sessions on the history of gardens and landscapes

📍 Venue: Kolymbethra Garden, Agrigento🎟️ Organized by: FAI – Fondo Ambiente Italiano & APGI - Associazione Parchi e Giardini d’Italia🔗 Info: www.giardinodellakolymbethra.it

June 5, 2025 | 6:00 PM

Inauguration of "The Silent Room v05" by Nathalie Harb 🏛️A peaceful, immersive installation offering a space for reflection and reconciliation.

📍 Venue: Valley of the Temples Archaeological Park, Agrigento🎟️ Exhibition open daily until October 31, 2025

June 6, 13, 20, 27, 2025

"A Garden of Books" 📚A literary journey featuring:

• Book presentations and readings
• Book shelters
• Live music & aperitifs

📍 Venue: Diocesan Museum Garden, Agrigento🎟️ Organized by: Museo Diocesano, Anthos_Agrigento Oltre la Valle, Ecclesiaviva🔗 Info: www.museodiocesanoag.it

June 8, 2025 | 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM

"The Aromatherapy Route" 🌸An interactive journey exploring the therapeutic power of nature through workshops and sensory experiences.

📍 Venue: Kolymbethra Garden, Agrigento

June 10–11, 2025 | 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM & 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

"Management Models and Best Practices in the Mediterranean" 🌍An international archaeology and cultural heritage conference discussing successful conservation practices.

📍 Venue: Kolymbethra Garden, Agrigento

June 13, 2025 | 6:30 PM

"Unlearning through Palestine: PEOPLE, STONES, and TREES"Presentation of the first results from the Summer School, exploring themes of identity, memory, and land.

📍 Venue: Palazzo Tomasi, Agrigento

June 13–15, 2025

Efebo d’Oro Film Festival – 47th Edition 🎥A weekend tribute to an internationally acclaimed filmmaker, featuring:

• A Lifetime Achievement Award 🏆
• A retrospective of their most iconic works

📍 Venue: Teatro dell’Efebo, Agrigento

June 15, 2025

"Open for Gardening – Pruning Citrus Trees" 🌳A hands-on workshop where participants will learn the traditional Sicilian techniques of citrus pruning, guided by expert agronomists.

📍 Venue: Kolymbethra Garden, Agrigento🎟️ Organized by: FAI – Fondo Ambiente Italiano🔗 Info: www.giardinodellakolymbethra.it

June 15, 2025

European Archaeology DaysA celebration of archaeology across Europe, with special events at the Kolymbethra Garden.

📍 Venue: Kolymbethra Garden, Agrigento🎟️ Organized by: FAI – Fondo Ambiente Italiano

June 27–29, 2025

Pirandello Festival 🎭A tribute to the legendary playwright Luigi Pirandello, featuring:

• Theatrical performances
• Talks and in-depth discussions

📍 Venue: Luigi Pirandello Theater, Agrigento🎟️ Organized by: Teatro Luigi Pirandello

June 28, 2025

COUNTLESS CITIES – Opening of International Pavilions 🏙️Explore global urban perspectives through immersive exhibits at:

• New York Pavilion 🌆
• Nazareth Pavilion ✡️
• Medellin Pavilion 🇨🇴

📍 Venue: Farm Cultural Park, Favara

ONGOING JUNE EVENTS

Throughout June

• Design & Territories 🏛️A project exploring the intersection of architecture, urban planning, and cultural heritage.📍 Organized by: Department of Architecture, Polo Territoriale Universitario di Agrigento
• "Living Diodoros" – The Biodiversity Fridays 🌱A weekly event featuring stories, flavors, and cultural traditions tied to Agrigento’s landscape.📍 Venue: Casa Diodoros, Valley of the Temples
• AGRIGENTO_Oltre la Valle – The Art & Faith Route ✝️📍 Info: www.museodiocesanoag.it

INSTALLATIONS & ART PROJECTS

• March 20 – September 20, 2025"Tetrapak Temple" Installation 🏛️Inspired by the columns of the Temple of Concordia, Edoardo Malagigi’s artwork features three large columns crafted from recycled Tetrapak cartons.📍 Venue: Agrigento
• April 18 – September 20, 2025"End Game" Installation 🎭One of Malagigi’s key works, this sculpture represents a giant pacifist Pinocchio made from recycled plastic, symbolizing anti-militarism.📍 Venue: Piazza Pirro Marconi, Agrigento
• May 8 – December 31, 2025"City Laboratory/City Theater" 🎭A performative experiment that transforms the city into a living stage.📍 Organized by: Department of Architecture, Polo Territoriale Universitario di Agrigento
• June 2025"The Self, the Other, and the Construction of the Human Landscape" 🌍A series of discussions exploring identity and the relationship between individuals and their environment.📍 Organized by: Polo Territoriale Universitario di Agrigento

ONGOING EXHIBITIONS

• January – June 2025"Agrigento and the Chiaramonte Family – Power, Magnificence, and Devotion" 🏰A journey through medieval Sicily and the legacy of the Chiaramonte dynasty.📍 Venues: Agrigento Archaeological Park, Mudia Diocesan Museum, Agrigento Cathedral
• January – December 2025Educational & Cultural Theater 🎭📍 Venue: Teatro Luigi Pirandello, Agrigento
• January – December 2025"Secret Agrigento – Ancient Roots" 🏛️📍 Venue: Questura Barracks, Agrigento📍 Organized by: Valley of the Temples Archaeological Park🔗 Info: www.parcovalledeitempli.it
• February – November 2025"Mobility and (Dis)Rootedness" 🚶‍♂️A series of events examining migration and identity in contemporary society.📍 Organized by: Department of Culture & Society, Polo Territoriale Universitario di Agrigento
• March – June 2025"Agrigento Capital of Culture: Sports as a Driver for Social Growth" 🏅📍 Organized by: Department of Psychological, Pedagogical, and Exercise Science, Polo Territoriale Universitario di Agrigento
• March – December 2025"Opera in Theater 2025" 🎭📍 Venue: Teatro Luigi Pirandello, Agrigento
• May 2 – November 29, 2025"Dynamic Exhibition on Patron Saints & Protectors" – Communities and Identities ⛪A storytelling exhibition featuring local traditions and religious heritage.📍 Venue: MAB – Museum_Archive_Library📍 Organized by: Archdiocese of Agrigento, CEI – Italian Episcopal Conference🔗 Info: www.museodiocesanoag.it
• June 2025"WE ARE ALL MIGRANTS" – Installation 🌍Edoardo Malagigi’s powerful sculptural artwork addressing the global theme of migration.📍 Venue: Ex Monastero Santo Spirito, Church of San Lorenzo, Agrigento
• Until December 2025"Varanasi. A Journey into the Infinite – New Cities Built from Scratch" 🏙️Featuring Astana, Forest City, Nusantara, Songdo, and The Line, this exhibition explores the futuristic urbanization of global cities.📍 Venues: Villa Genuardi, Agrigento | Ex Auditorium, Aragona📍 Organized by: Soprintendenza BB.CC.AA. Agrigento, Farm Cultural Park, Municipality of Agrigento, Valley of the Temples Park, Municipality of Aragona
• Ongoing"Confraternities and Committees" ⛪📍 Venue: Basilica Cathedral, Agrigento🔗 Info: www.museodiocesanoag.it

ONGOING EVENTS FROM JUNE TO DECEMBER

May – December 2025

International Festival S.U.D. 🌍A creative laboratory exploring the cultural and social dynamics of the Global South through art, literature, and debate.📍 Organized by: Department of Culture & Society, Polo Territoriale Universitario di Agrigento

June – September 2025

Agrigento City Theater – Street Performances 🎭Live theatrical performances bringing history and storytelling to the historic squares of Agrigento.📍 Venue: Teatro Luigi Pirandello, Agrigento📍 Organized by: Teatro Luigi Pirandello

June 27 – August 29, 2025

Sere FAI d’Estate – "Fuori Cantina" 🍷Every Friday evening at Kolymbethra Garden, enjoy an enogastronomic journey through the finest wines and viniculture traditions of Sicily.📍 Venue: Kolymbethra Garden, Agrigento📍 Organized by: FAI – Fondo Ambiente Italiano🔗 Info: www.giardinodellakolymbethra.it

June 27 – September 1, 2025

Sere FAI d’Estate – Sunset & Literary Aperitifs 📖Extended evening visits to FAI heritage sites, with a series of sunset events and literary gatherings under the stars.📍 Venue: Kolymbethra Garden, Agrigento📍 Organized by: FAI – Fondo Ambiente Italiano🔗 Info: www.giardinodellakolymbethra.it

June 18 – September 30, 2025

Photography Exhibition: "San Calogero – Faces of the Festival" 📸A visual journey through one of Sicily’s most beloved religious celebrations.📍 Venue: Conventino Chiaramontano, Basilica dell’Immacolata, Agrigento📍 Organized by: Archdiocese of Agrigento, Basilica dell’Immacolata, Ecclesiaviva Onlus

June – October 2025

ADI Design & Art Index 2025 🎨An exhibition exploring the relationship between innovation and cultural heritage through contemporary design.📍 Organized by: Polo Territoriale Universitario di Agrigento & ADI – Italian Association for Industrial Design

June – December 2025

Theatrical Tours of Pirandello Theater 🎭Step into the history of theater with immersive guided tours, featuring actors portraying legendary characters from the world of performing arts.📍 Venue: Teatro Luigi Pirandello, Agrigento📍 Organized by: Teatro Luigi Pirandello

June – December 2025

Cultural Gardens – Evening Events 🌿🎶A series of open-air events blending music, art, and nature, creating an enchanting nighttime atmosphere.📍 Venue: Teatro Luigi Pirandello, Agrigento📍 Organized by: Teatro Luigi Pirandello

✨ Enjoy a season filled with culture, history, and unforgettable experiences in Agrigento, the 2025 Italian Capital of Culture! ✨

DEEP DIVE: ARTISTIC RESIDENCIES

Unlearning through Palestine: People, Stones, and Trees 🌍

The School of Unlearning, curated by Shourideh Molavi (Columbia University), is an artistic and academic summer residency running from May 12 to July 6, 2025, in the heart of Agrigento.

For eight weeks, scholars, artists, and activists will engage in co-creation, exploring the themes of People, Stones, and Trees through:

• Closed and public workshops
• Collective discussions
• Collaborative art production

The residency serves as a platform for mutual learning and intercultural exchange, culminating in a final exhibition and public event.

This summer school offers an opportunity to immerse in Agrigento’s historical and cultural beauty, tackling universal themes through a radically new lens, bridging local voices with a global discourse on resistance and transformation.

DISCOVER THE SITE: PALAZZO TOMASI 🏛️

Palazzo Tomasi, a historic neoclassical building in the heart of Agrigento, is a landmark of the city’s cultural heritage.

In 2025, it will be restored and opened to the public as part of Agrigento’s Italian Capital of Culture 2025 program. The venue will host:

• Exhibitions
• Cultural events
• Artistic installations

This revitalization project re-establishes Palazzo Tomasi as a central hub for the city's cultural life, offering a space for community engagement and artistic expression.

MEET THE ARTIST: LISE CHEVALIER 🎨

Trained at the Universität der Künste in Berlin, Lise Chevalier is a visual artist and poet, known for her multi-media approach, blending traditional craftsmanship with contemporary artistic practices.

Her work constructs a "personal mythology" in dialogue with the living world. Megaliths, ferns, and botanical genesis emerge in her inks, paperworks, and ceramics, forming an intimate, ritualistic relationship with nature.

Key Achievements & International Exhibitions

Over the past decade, Chevalier has lived and worked in Sète (France) and exhibited worldwide, including:

• Auberge de France (Rhodes, Greece)
• Centro Cultural Metropolitano (Quito, Ecuador)
• Institut Français (Kyoto, Japan)
• Palazzo Sant’Elia (Palermo, Italy)
• Künstlerhaus Bethanien (Berlin, Germany)
• Parkingallery (Tehran, Iran)

In France, her work has been showcased at:

• MO.CO. Panacée (Montpellier)
• AL/MA Gallery (Montpellier)
• Paul Valéry Museum (Sète)
• Topographie de l’Art (Paris)

Her artist books are published by Méridianes and Rencontres, reflecting her deep engagement with poetry, ecology, and multicultural exchange.

Advocacy & Current Projects

• Founder of A.T.E.N.A. 🎭 An artist residency program in Sète, supporting women artists and ecological projects.
• Working on projects in Sicily, Japan, and the Dodecanese Islands, combining traditional skills with contemporary creation.

Her work bridges cultures, crafts, and natural elements, making her an important voice in contemporary eco-artistic practices.

✨ Stay tuned for more exclusive insights on Agrigento’s artistic and cultural scene as part of its 2025 Italian Capital of Culture celebrations! ✨

DEEP DIVE: EXPLORE THE PROJECTS

The Aromatherapy Route 🌿✨

An immersive experience blending agriculture, art, and well-being, showcasing the beauty and therapeutic power of nature.

The Aromatherapy Route, curated by the Agrigento 2025 Foundation, invites visitors to engage in aromatherapy journeys, guided by selected artists through an open call.

🗓️ April – September 2025 | One Sunday per month📍 Scenic locations across Agrigento:

• Kolymbethra Garden
• Botanical Garden
• Other iconic nature sites

This multi-sensory experience promotes social inclusion and creativity, offering a new way to connect with Sicilian landscapes and traditions.

Countless Cities – The Biennale of Global Cities 🏙️🌍

Curated by Farm Cultural Park, the fourth edition of Countless Cities explores the theme:🔹 "The Superpowers of Culture and Good Relationships" 🔹

The 2025 Biennale, starting June 28, reflects on:

• Conflict as a universal experience
• The power of culture & human relationships in shaping a future of peace and collaboration

🛕 Featured City Pavilions:

• The Bronx (New York) 🏙️ – Urban resilience and creativity
• Nazareth ✡️ – A city of historical and cultural crossroads
• Medellín 🇨🇴 – A story of transformation through community strength

Event Highlights:

📖 "Literature and Cities" – Curated by Roberto BruccoleriA literary journey through Belfast, Dresden, and Bilbao, exploring their histories and cultural narratives.

🎥 "Across the Cities" Film Series – Curated by Andrea BartoliA screening of documentaries showcasing the challenges and resilience of cities such as Jakarta, Beirut, and Mariupol.

This groundbreaking biennale invites artists, thinkers, and urbanists to reimagine the city as a cultural hub, fostering a global dialogue on identity, heritage, and transformation.

CeSDAS – Center for Applied Dramaturgy and Space 🎭🌍

Under the artistic direction of Andrea Cusumano and developed in collaboration with the European Theater Research Network, CeSDAS is an international research lab dedicated to:

• Creative experimentation in performing arts
• Training emerging artists in an innovative educational program

🎭 Focus Areas:

• Acting & Performance Studies
• Scenography & Stage Design
• Directing & Theatrical Storytelling

The training method, based on the Anglo-Saxon approach of practice-as-research, merges advanced techniques with interdisciplinary experimentation, fostering a unique creative community.

2025 Special Event:

🏛️ Hosted at Teatro Regina Margherita, RacalmutoAn exploration of the deep connections between space, history, and performance, transforming the territory into a narrative stage.

CeSDAS stands as a center of artistic excellence, blending innovation and tradition at the heart of Italy’s Capital of Culture 2025.