Cherry Blossom Festival (The Cherry Valley)
Three spring days among the blooming cherry orchards of Bracigliano, in the Cherry Valley
About Cherry Blossom Festival
Bracigliano, the village of cherry trees
Nestled in a green basin between the Picentini Mountains and the Agro Nocerino Sarnese, the municipality of Bracigliano, in the province of Salerno (Campania), has always been known as the village of cherry trees. Its hillsides are covered with thousands of trees that, between late March and mid-April, ignite with a white and pink bloom capable of transforming the entire landscape. It is from this natural spectacle that the Cherry Blossom Festival, also known as The Cherry Valley, was born: a long spring weekend dedicated to discovering the territory, reaching its fourth edition in 2026.
A festival that unites science, nature, and culture
The event is more than just a simple food festival: the program weaves together scientific outreach, music, theater, and outdoor activities. Each edition opens with a conference at Palazzo De Simone, the historic residence that serves as the heart of the event, organized with professors from the Department of Pharmacy of the University of Salerno. Topics include cherry cultivation, agronomic innovation, water management, and the role of bees and pollinating insects—themes that here are not abstract but directly affect the town's economy.
Alongside the scientific aspect, there are concerts, theatrical performances, and exhibitions, often entrusted to students from local high schools: a way to link the festival to the new generations and not just to rural memory.
The cherry, identity of a territory
The Bracigliano cherry is the true symbol of the village, enhanced by the PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) recognition and cultivated in numerous local varieties with ancient names, such as Spernocchia, Sciazza, or Pagliaccia, characterized by a brilliant skin ranging from dark red to amaranth. It is no coincidence that Bracigliano is part of the national City of Cherries Association, of which Deputy Mayor Ferdinando Albano is the national president. In April, the fruits are not yet ready: the festival celebrates the promise of the harvest, i.e., the flower, while the ripe cherry is celebrated in the separate Cherry Festival in June.
Walks, cycling tours, and visits to the orchards
The best way to experience the bloom is to move on foot or by bicycle. During the festival, local associations accompany visitors along routes that cross the blooming cherry orchards, the historic center, the churches, and the town's landmarks:
- cycling tours through the hills with local mountain bike groups;
- urban hikes and guided nature walks;
- panoramic stops at the best spots to photograph the bloom, a true Italian-style hanami;
- visits to the orchards accompanied by producers, who explain the tree's life cycle.
Music, theater, and craftsmanship
Palazzo De Simone and the cloister of the Convent of San Francesco host the musical moments: youth orchestras, solo instrument concerts, voice and guitar performances, and traditional folk theater. The picture is completed by ceramic exhibitions created by students of the art high school and local craft stalls, which make the festival a truly multidisciplinary event.
The flavors of the Cherry Valley
Local producer stalls offer tastings of typical products: cured meats, cheeses, bread, extra virgin olive oil, honey, and of course, cherry-based products, from jams to liqueurs. It is an opportunity to meet farms and artisans who work all year round on difficult hilly terrain, where cultivation remains largely manual.
Why it is worth the trip
The Cherry Blossom Festival is one of the most evocative spring events in inland Campania: it is located a short distance from Salerno, Nocera Inferiore, and Avellino, but retains the slow pace of a hill village. Those who arrive find a blooming landscape, a curated cultural program, and genuine hospitality, far from the mass tourism of the coast. It is also a good starting point for discovering the Agro Nocerino Sarnese and the Picentini Mountains.
Cherry Blossom Festival — edition 2026
Fourth edition, from April 10 to 12, 2026
In 2026, the Cherry Blossom Festival of Bracigliano (province of Salerno, Campania) expanded to three full days, from Friday to Sunday. The common thread was the enhancement of the cherry tree as an identity symbol of the town, addressed from both a scientific and a cultural point of view.
The opening, on Friday, April 10 at Palazzo De Simone, was entrusted to a conference curated by professors from the Department of Pharmacy — Agricultural Sciences degree course of the University of Salerno, coordinated by Professor Domenico Ronga, followed in the evening by a concert by the Orchestra of the Alberto Galizia Musical High School of Nocera Inferiore.
Saturday combined sport and music, with a morning cycling tour through the blooming orchards and a solo cello concert in the Convent of San Francesco, while Sunday closed with an urban hike and a theatrical performance. Throughout the event, the public could visit the local producer stalls and the exhibition of ceramics created by the art high school students.
Programme Cherry Blossom Festival 2026
Friday, April 10, 2026
- 18:00 — Palazzo De Simone: conference on the importance of the cherry tree between culture and tradition, by the professors of the Department of Pharmacy — Agricultural Sciences degree course of the University of Salerno, coordinated by Professor Domenico Ronga. Interventions by Professor Giuseppe Celano on tradition, innovation, and water management, and by Professor Giulia Giunti on the role of bees and pollinating insects.
- 20:00 — Palazzo De Simone: concert by the Orchestra of the Alberto Galizia Musical High School of Nocera Inferiore, conducted by Maestro Luigi De Nardo.
Saturday, April 11, 2026
- 9:00 — Cycling tour among the blooming cherry orchards, by the MTB Bikers Bracigliano association.
- 10:30 — Convent of San Francesco: solo cello concert.
- 18:00 — Conference «Bracigliano: environment, nature, and traditions for sustainable longevity».
Sunday, April 12, 2026
- 10:00 — Urban hike through the historic center and cherry orchards, by the CTG Agape APS association.
- 16:30 — Palazzo De Simone: theatrical performance «The Legend of Colapesce».
Throughout the festival
- Local producer stalls with tastings of typical products: Agricoltura Siniscalchi, Bracigliano Salumi, Panificio Calabrese, Frantoio Marina.
- Exhibition of ceramics created by the students of the Galizia Art High School, curated by Professor Francesco Capaldo.
Highlights Cherry Blossom Festival 2026
- The blooming cherry orchards of the Cherry Valley, one of the most evocative hanami in Southern Italy.
- The opening conference with professors from the University of Salerno.
- The concert of the Alberto Galizia Musical High School Orchestra at Palazzo De Simone.
- The solo cello concert in the Convent of San Francesco.
- The Saturday morning cycling tour and the Sunday urban hike.
- The theatrical performance «The Legend of Colapesce».
- The producer stalls and the ceramic exhibition by the art high school students.
Prices Cherry Blossom Festival 2026
Practical information — Cherry Blossom Festival
How to get there
By car: A30 Caserta-Salerno motorway, exit at Castel San Giorgio or Nocera Inferiore, then provincial roads towards Bracigliano (about 15 minutes). From the A3 Naples-Salerno, exit at Nocera Inferiore.
By train: Nocera Inferiore or Salerno station on the Naples-Salerno line, then local bus or taxi to Bracigliano.
By plane: Naples Capodichino Airport (about 50 km) and Salerno-Costa d'Amalfi Airport (about 30 km).
Where it takes place
The nerve center is Palazzo De Simone, in the historic center; other events are held in the Convent of San Francesco and along the paths among the cherry orchards.
Tips
- Comfortable shoes and layered clothing: the paths through the orchards are uphill, and in spring, temperatures change significantly between morning and evening.
- The bloom lasts only a few days and is weather-sensitive: it is advisable to check the final dates before leaving.
- For walks, cycling tours, and tastings, booking is recommended as places are limited.
- Parking in the historic center is limited: it is better to leave the car in the areas indicated by the organizers and continue on foot.
Information
Municipality of Bracigliano — comune.bracigliano.sa.it; e-mail [email protected].
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Where does it take place — Cherry Blossom Festival
Palazzo De Simone, centro storico e ciliegeti di Bracigliano