This Marks the 31st Anniversary of the Agreement
The City of Tampa is proud to honor the 31st anniversary of our Sister City Agreement with Agrigento, Italy by lighting up the skyline in the national colors of Italy: green, white, and red. This will take place beginning at sunset on February 5, 6, and 7 as a symbol of our deep friendship and cultural exchange between our two cities.
Agrigento and Tampa have had a Sister City Agreement since 1990, and the relationship has only grown stronger over the years. The two cities have shared cultural exchange programs, educational opportunities, and economic development initiatives.
"Agrigento is a beautiful city with a rich history and culture, and our sister city relationship with them allows Tampa to not only share in that beauty but also to learn and grow from it," Mayor Jane Castor said. "This special lighting tribute is a reminder of the strong bond we share with our Agrigento and our appreciation for their continued friendship and support."
For more information about the Sister City Agreement between Tampa and Agrigento, please visit the City of Tampa's website.
Download the Sister City Agreement
About Tampa-Agrigento Sister Cities Affiliation
L’Unione Italiana (The Italian Club of Tampa, Inc.) formed the Tampa-Agrigento Sister Cities Committee in 1987. The Committee selected the City of Agrigento as its Italian Sister City, due to it being the capital of the Sicilian Province of Agrigento, where approximately 90% of Tampa’s Italian Americans trace their roots.
The official affiliation was approved by both cities in August 1991, with the signing of international documents by Tampa Mayor Sandy Freedman and Agrigento Sindaco (Mayor) Roberto DiMauro in Tampa, Florida. During the one-week visit, Sindaco DiMauro arrived in Tampa with a 28-member delegation consisting of other Agrigento officials, their families, and the Sicilian folkloric dance group Vecchia Gergenti.
The visiting delegation met with Tampa and Hillsborough County officials, toured local public utility facilities, and was hosted at several functions. The Italian American community opened their homes to host each member of the delegation. The Vecchia Gergenti group conducted several performances in Tampa, each with overwhelming crowds, and taught local schools and dance groups authentic Sicilian dances.
In May 1992, Mayor Freedman and a 19-member delegation from Tampa visited Agrigento. Sindaco Leandro Bonaccolta graciously hosted the delegation for 3 days. The delegation visited local museums and temples, exchanged gifts with the Agrigento Council, and discussed future
Several delegations have exchanged visits since that time. Mayors, other dignitaries, and performers from the province have visited Tampa. Delegations from Tampa have included members of Tampa City Council, Hillsborough County Commission, and the Florida Senate. However, in May 1996 Tampa Mayor Dick Greco led a 20-member delegation to Agrigento. The group met not only with Agrigento Sindaco Calogero Sodano but also with the President of the Province of Agrigento and the mayors of Alessandria della Rocca and Santo Stefano Quisquina. This visit initiated a dialogue that resulted in the National Museum in Agrigento agreeing to loan major Sicilian antiquities to the Tampa Museum of Art. Antiquities that had previously never left Sicily.
More recently, in 2018, Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn led a delegation that met with four mayors in the Province of Agrigento. Discussions centered primarily around initiating positive economic development initiatives.
2021 marked the 30-year anniversary of our Sister Cities' relationship. As part of our celebration, Tampa Sister Cities partnered with Piazze D’ Italia, The Italian Club of Tampa, and La Nuova Sicilia Unita Lodge of the Sons of Italy to display the products of Sicily in Tampa. The Italy Expo 2021 hosted Sicilian chefs and artisans that exposed Sicilian cuisine and products to the citizens and business owners in Tampa and throughout Florida to create ongoing business opportunities.