Festivals and Village Traditions

Life in and around Monterubiaglio is shaped by religious processions, village feasts, flower festivals, medieval celebrations and traditions passed down through generations.

The dates of some festivals change each year, but if your visit coincides with one, it can offer a memorable glimpse of local life..

Spring Festivals

Easter and Holy Week

Traditional Good Friday processions and Easter ceremonies take place in Orvieto, Bolsena and many of the surrounding villages.

Festa di Maggio — Monterubiaglio

Monterubiaglio’s traditional May celebration brings the village together to honour the Madonna with religious ceremonies, food, music and festivities.

I Pugnaloni — Acquapendente

Held on the third Sunday in May, this remarkable festival fills the town with enormous mosaics created from flowers, petals, leaves and other natural materials.

Orvieto in Fiore and La Palombella — Orvieto

Flower displays, decorated balconies, traditional flag throwers and the historic Palombella ceremony bring colour and pageantry to Orvieto around Pentecost.

Summer Festivals

Corpus Domini — Bolsena and Orvieto

One of the region’s most important celebrations. The streets of Bolsena are covered with intricate flower carpets, while Orvieto hosts an impressive medieval procession. The traditional Faith March connects the two towns.

Festa delle Ortensie — Bolsena

A lakeside flower festival dedicated to hydrangeas, gardens and ornamental plants, usually held in June.

Misteri di Santa Cristina — Bolsena

Every year on 23 and 24 July, living tableaux tell the story of Bolsena’s patron saint in one of the area’s most distinctive religious traditions.

Madonna Assunta and Il Piatto Perduto — Monterubiaglio

August brings evenings of village celebration, traditional food, music and religious observances honouring the Assumption of the Madonna.

Bolsena 1328

A lively medieval festival in the historic Rione Castello, with costumes, flag throwers, performers, music and historical re-enactments.

Autumn Festivals

Madonna del Suffragio — Grotte di Castro

A traditional September celebration with an evening procession and illuminations through the historic village.

Festa della Pistatura — Monterubiaglio

An October grape-harvest celebration recreating the traditional practice of treading grapes and preparing the wine.

Festa del Bigonzone — Monterubiaglio

Usually held in November, this village celebration centres on local wine, seasonal food and the traditional wooden new-wine vat - Il Bigonzone.

Winter Festivals

Christmas in Orvieto

From late November until early January, Orvieto hosts Christmas lights, concerts, markets, nativity displays and seasonal events throughout the historic centre.

Living Nativity — Bolsena

The medieval Rione Castello becomes the setting for a traditional living nativity during the Christmas and Epiphany period.

Le Vie dei Presepi — Monterubiaglio

Nativity displays, village decorations and community celebrations bring Monterubiaglio to life during the Christmas season.

La Vecchiarella — Monterubiaglio

Around Epiphany, traditional singers make their way through the village, continuing one of Monterubiaglio’s most characteristic winter customs.

Umbria Jazz Winter — Orvieto

Between Christmas and New Year, historic buildings, theatres and streets across Orvieto become venues for an internationally renowned programme of live music.

Festival dates and programmes may change. Please ask us for the latest local information when planning your visit.