Drought-conscious Temps de Flors flower festival to take place from May 13 to 21

Girona's first post-pandemic Temps de Flors flower festival will not be entirely "normal" this year either: taking place in the northern Catalan city from May 13 to 21, it will drastically reduce its use of water due to the severe 30-month drought affecting Catalonia.

Organized by local associations with support from the council, the 68th edition of the event that carpets the city in flowers will thus favor plants that require less water and will irrigate them with groundwater.

"We have to adapt to the drought," Girona councilmember Glòria Plana said on Friday at the unveiling of plans for this year. 

126 floral displays

There will be 126 floral displays – 7 more than last year – in 106 different locations across the city.

The floral displays will be located mainly in the old Barri Vell neighborhood, but also in Can Gibert del Pla, Carme, Devesa, Eixample, Les Pedreres, Mercadal, Montilivi, Palau-sacosta, Santa Eugènia, Sant Narcís, Taialà, and Vall de Sant Daniel.

Specific locations include some that had been closed during the pandemic, like the old Odeon theater or parts of the Girona History Museum, the Casa Lleó Avinay building, Sant Lluc church, the Díaz Tarragó building, the Casa Martínez Davalillos building, and the Jewish History Museum. 

The organizers have three proposed itineraries as well as a route through the main commercial streets, one that stops at the city's main green areas, and another that is wheelchair accessible.

Last year the festival attracted some 350,000 visitors and could easily attract as many this year after a busy Easter season, mayor Marta Madrenas said, calling the event an "absolute success."

Filling the Sink

Spring has sprung and Catalonia is in bloom. Nowhere more so than the historic city of Girona, which this time of year is transformed into a riot of color and life for the Temps de Flors flower festival.

Press play below to listen to the Filling the Sink episode from May 2022.