"The flowers of spring are the dreams of winter", wrote the Lebanese poet Khalil Gibran around the turn of the century. The Merano winter must have dreamed abundantly, for now the town on the Passirio River is blooming. It is revealing its most beautiful treasures to us, sometimes hidden in gardens and parks, often boldly displayed along promenades and walking paths. Right in front of the Jugendstil gem of the Kurhaus Meran, on the elegant Kurpromenade, the Merano Flower Festival will take place from April 24-27, celebrating the diversity of rare plants, flowers, and shrubs, with exhibitors from many corners of Europe, expert advice from some of Italy's foremost gardeners, as well as workshops for children and adults.

The theme of this year’s Merano Flower Festival is “Respect”. Whether for others or for ourselves, respect is an essential aspect of all our lives. To respect others and ourselves means to respect everything that surrounds us – foremost, nature. This respect is also reflected in the culinary offerings: the Merano Flower Festival showcases this through its partnership with Slow Food and its principles of being good, clean, and fair, as well as with the South Tyrolean quality brand “Roter Hahn”. Respect is also evident in the communal atmosphere: opportunities for aperitifs with selected wines and live music invite guests to enjoy and mingle.