Orchidays — Wild Orchid Festival
In the heart of Mattinata, the Gargano capital of wild orchids
About Orchidays
The Gargano wild orchid festival
Orchidays — In the heart of Mattinata is the event that every spring turns the Gargano village of Mattinata, in the province of Foggia, into a true Italian capital of wild orchids. The local area preserves approximately 30% of the entire national heritage of these species: on the trails climbing towards Monte Sacro, over 60 of the 93 varieties recorded in the Gargano National Park bloom, out of a total of about 190 known throughout Italy. It is a rare botanical treasure that the festival reveals and helps visitors discover, step by step.
An open-air laboratory
For four days, Orchidays weaves together nature, science, gentle sports, and culture. The heart of the event is "Andar per orchidee" (Orchid Hunting), a daily excursion along the flowering trails of Monte Sacro led by expert botanists and agronomists who accompany visitors to discover the various blooming varieties. A rich calendar of nature trekking, eco-walks, tastings of local products, and outdoor sports activities revolves around this main event.
For families, children, and athletes
The program dedicates plenty of space to families with green workshops such as Baby Natural Experience, Eco-readings: Pages in Motion, and On the Tracks of Nature, an excursion designed for the little ones. There is no shortage of sports events: the OrchiRace amateur run, a seven-kilometer non-competitive race immersed in nature, and the Silent Natural Fit, a walk with headphones among the blooming trails. The ecological cleanup of the village with Mattinata Eco-Walking ideally opens the event in the name of sustainability.
Science, music, and flavors
Alongside the excursions, the festival offers scientific seminars with international experts and moments for discussion on environmental sustainability. The evenings are free and bring the historic center and Corso Matino to life: from the Podolic Fest, which combines Gargano food and wine with live music, to the grand finale with a concert by the Puglia Philharmonic Orchestra dedicated to great Italian songwriting.
Sustainable off-season tourism
Promoted by the Municipality of Mattinata together with Studio 360, the Gargano National Park Authority, and the Puglia Region, Orchidays was created to enhance the territory during a period far from the summer crowds, promoting slow, naturalistic, and conscious tourism. It is an opportunity to experience the Gargano in its most authentic form, when the Mediterranean scrub lights up with blooms and the Apulian village becomes a meeting point for botany enthusiasts, hikers, and families.
Orchidays — edition 2026
The 4th edition of Orchidays was held in Mattinata from Thursday, April 23 to Sunday, April 26, 2026, confirming the Gargano village as the capital of wild orchids.
The program wove together nature, gentle sports, science, and culture, with the daily "Andar per orchidee" excursion along the Monte Sacro trails serving as the common thread throughout the four days.
- April 23 — Mattinata Eco-Walking (ecological cleanup of the village) and Baby Natural Experience, thematic workshops for children.
- April 24 — Eco-readings: Pages in Motion (a walk with books) and Podolic Fest, an evening of food, wine, and live music.
- April 25 — OrchiRace, a 7 km non-competitive amateur run, and Silent Natural Fit, a walk with headphones; followed by evening entertainment on Corso Matino.
- April 26 — Gargano Trekking, Walking Slow and Green, and the "On the Tracks of Nature" excursion for children; grand finale with a concert by the Puglia Philharmonic Orchestra dedicated to Italian songwriting.
The event was organized by Studio 360 and the Municipality of Mattinata, in collaboration with the Gargano National Park Authority and the Puglia Region.
Programme Orchidays 2026
Thursday, April 23
- Andar per orchidee — guided hike on the Monte Sacro trails
- Mattinata Eco-Walking — ecological cleanup walk of the village
- Baby Natural Experience — thematic workshops for children
Friday, April 24
- Andar per orchidee — guided hike on Monte Sacro
- Eco-readings: Pages in Motion — ecological walk with readings
- Podolic Fest — Gargano food, wine, and live music on Corso Matino (evening)
Saturday, April 25
- OrchiRace — 7 km non-competitive amateur run in nature
- Silent Natural Fit — walk with headphones among the blooming trails
- Evening entertainment on Corso Matino
Sunday, April 26
- Andar per orchidee — final hike on Monte Sacro
- Gargano Trekking — nature trekking
- Walking Slow and Green — excursion with tastings of local products
- On the Tracks of Nature — children's excursion to discover orchids
- Concert by the Puglia Philharmonic Orchestra dedicated to Italian songwriting (evening)
The program was accompanied by scientific seminars and meetings on environmental sustainability. Details and bookings at orchidays.it.
Highlights Orchidays 2026
Prices Orchidays 2026
Practical information — Orchidays
How to get there
Mattinata is located on the southern side of the Gargano, in the province of Foggia (Puglia). By car, it can be reached via the SS89 Garganica; the nearest train station is Foggia, which is then connected by local bus lines. The reference airports are Bari-Palese and Foggia-Gino Lisa.
When
The event takes place in the second half of April, during the peak blooming period of the wild orchids of Monte Sacro.
Costs and reservations
Many of the daytime experiences and evening events are free, but excursions and workshops require mandatory booking due to limited space. Updated program, registration, and details on the official website orchidays.it.
Tips
Bring trekking shoes, water, and layered clothing for the hikes on the Monte Sacro trails. It is advisable to book the most popular activities in advance.
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Where does it take place — Orchidays
Monte Sacro e centro storico di Mattinata