TULIP FESTIVAL-CASTIGLIONE DEL LAGO

An annual event that’s been held for over forty years, the Tulip Festival of Castiglione del Lago is the perfect opportunity for a day out by the shores of Lake Trasimeno.

The origin of the festival can be traced back to some Dutch families who had chosen the charming town of Castiglione as their home after the war. Here they brought the custom to celebrate incoming spring with floral arrangements on windows, balconies and with floats. The tulips, the first flowers of the spring season, were grown by families themselves.

Nowadays, the event features an opening-day parade inspired by the era of Ascanio della Corgna, Duke of Castiglione del Lago in 1550. The floats are decorated with thousands of colourful tulips by the four different neighborhoods of the town.  In the main square, both adults and children can take part in many traditional games. The festival ends with a joust where the four city districts compete against each other. You will also find through out the town folks open their tavernas to the public for traditional foods and bespoke artisanal crafts, you’ll also find the streets are enlivened with local street actors playing ancient games in vintage costumes.  

 Info: www.festadeltulipano.com