If Agrigento greets the first days of March each year with the Almond Blossom Festival – an event of worldwide resonance – Avola, a town in the Val di Noto in the province of Syracuse, holds its Sagra della Mandorla during the week of Ferragosto, mid-August. Unlike the international folk tradition in the Valley of the Temples, with dances, songs, and delegations from many countries, Avola’s celebration is devoted to the fruit.

Visitors, tourists, and locals have the chance not only to enjoy the views toward the Hyblaean plateau, but also to stroll from booth to booth sampling specialties made with this flavorful nut: rice with almonds, puddings, almond milk, and a host of pastries, the delights of the local confectionery tradition.