IN PHOTOS: Italian village bursts into bloom in annual 'flowering'
Every year, the fields of Umbrian village Castelluccio come alive with colour as part of an annual spectacle known as 'la fioritura' (the flowering or blooming).
Poppies, cornflowers, daisies, violets and others paint the fields in rainbow hues, and tourists flock to take in the sight from the Apennine's highest village.
READ ALSO: The parts of Italy that are offering incentives to tempt tourists back
Photo: Tiziana Fabi/AFP
La fioritura takes place in the Piano Grande – 'Great Plain' – beneath the Sibillini Mountains, in the summer months between late May and July.
Photo: Tiziana Fabi/AFP
This year the blooms peaked in early July.
Photo: Tiziana Fabi/AFP
Castelluccio is well-known in Italy and among chefs worldwide for the lentils that grow in these fields, which have Protected Geographical Indication (IGP) meaning they sell for a higher price due to the origin and quality. The town's lentils sell at around €12 per kilo.
The colourful spectacle began with local farmers leaving their fields fallow after the harvest, allowing wildflowers to seed themselves.
Photo: Tiziana Fabi/AFP
Since the 2016 earthquakes, the annual 'flowering' has taken on a deeper meaning.
The town was badly hit by the series of tremors, and the bright colours ahead of the September harvest are an important symbol of Castelluccio coming to life again.
TRAVEL IN UMBRIA:
-
Exploring Umbria by bike
-
Pozzuolo, the Italian hill town you've never heard of
-
Five great places to visit near Perugia
Photo: Tiziana Fabi/AFP
The natural event has become a popular tourist attraction, to the point where a thousand visitors descended last weekend alone and cars lined up for kilometres to reach the fields.
Photo: Vincenzo Pinto/AFP
Local authorities are considering introducing a booking system in future years, as well as shuttle buses to carry visitors to the plain.
Photo: Vincenzo Pinto/AFP
IN PHOTOS: Northern Italy's mimosa harvest comes early
Comments
See Also
Poppies, cornflowers, daisies, violets and others paint the fields in rainbow hues, and tourists flock to take in the sight from the Apennine's highest village.
READ ALSO: The parts of Italy that are offering incentives to tempt tourists back
Photo: Tiziana Fabi/AFP
La fioritura takes place in the Piano Grande – 'Great Plain' – beneath the Sibillini Mountains, in the summer months between late May and July.
Photo: Tiziana Fabi/AFP
This year the blooms peaked in early July.
Photo: Tiziana Fabi/AFP
Castelluccio is well-known in Italy and among chefs worldwide for the lentils that grow in these fields, which have Protected Geographical Indication (IGP) meaning they sell for a higher price due to the origin and quality. The town's lentils sell at around €12 per kilo.
The colourful spectacle began with local farmers leaving their fields fallow after the harvest, allowing wildflowers to seed themselves.
Photo: Tiziana Fabi/AFP
Since the 2016 earthquakes, the annual 'flowering' has taken on a deeper meaning.
The town was badly hit by the series of tremors, and the bright colours ahead of the September harvest are an important symbol of Castelluccio coming to life again.
TRAVEL IN UMBRIA:
- Exploring Umbria by bike
- Pozzuolo, the Italian hill town you've never heard of
- Five great places to visit near Perugia
Photo: Tiziana Fabi/AFP
The natural event has become a popular tourist attraction, to the point where a thousand visitors descended last weekend alone and cars lined up for kilometres to reach the fields.
Photo: Vincenzo Pinto/AFP
Local authorities are considering introducing a booking system in future years, as well as shuttle buses to carry visitors to the plain.
Photo: Vincenzo Pinto/AFP
IN PHOTOS: Northern Italy's mimosa harvest comes early
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.