Maggiolata – Lucignano

20 May-1 June 2023. Flowers and allegorical floats in the village. Food stands.

On May 20-21 and 23 and from May 28 to June 1st, 2023 in the elliptical medieval village of Lucignano, in the province of Arezzo, it takes place a spring flower festival known as the Maggiolata of Lucignano, this year at its 84th edition.

The Maggiolata name comes from the intense yellow flowers of the broom, which in Lucignano are called “May” (“Maggio”) and which in this period fill and color the streets and balconies of the village.

The festival starts on the 20th evening at 9.30 pm with the historical procession parading in Lucignano and the evening ends with music and dancing.

The actual Maggiolata that is the parade of allegorical floats decorated with flowers takes place on 4 dates in two different weekends:
On 21 and 23rd May (on the 23rd at night),
On 28 May and 1st June (1st June at night)

Every evening, during the festival, and at lunch on Sunday, food stands offer tasty local dishes.

The four districts of Lucignano, distinguished by the colors that represent them, prepare and set up the wagons in competition and organize at least one convivial dinner every year. They are:
– Rione di Via dell’Amore, whose colors are yellow and red. Typical is the yellow-red dinner in July, which everyone can participate in;
– Rione di Porta San Giovanni (yellow and green), located in the door of the north-eastern part of the town wall. Every year a local dinner in the Piazzuola is held;
– Rione di Porta San Giusto, whose symbolic colors are black and white, in homage to Siena. It is the largest and most populous area. Apart from the traditional dinner, the feast of pancakes on the day dedicated to St. Joseph, in mid-March, is very typical;
– Porta di Porta Murata, which takes its name from the door of the same name that defended the town. Its colors are red and blue. In addition to the traditional dinner along Via Corsica, the inhabitants celebrate the Chestnut Festival in autumn.

Marching bands and folkloristic groups accompany the parade of floats.

At the end of the festival, a jury appointed by the Maggiolata Association awards the “Grifo d’oro” prize to the most beautiful wagon.

USEFUL INFORMATION
To see the program and to buy tickets>>>
See also the facebook page of the event

DO YOU LIKE FLOWERS?
There are many gardens and parks that can be visited in Italy. Look at a selection and see where>>>

(cover photo: thanks to Jacqueline Macou)