🌸 Pugnaloni Festival – Acquapendente: Flowers, History, and Faith in a Masterpiece of Colors

In the heart of Tuscia, every year on the third Sunday of May, the town of Acquapendente adorns itself with art and devotion for the Pugnaloni Festival — one of Italy’s oldest and most spectacular celebrations.A tradition that blends creativity, historical memory, and spirituality into breathtaking mosaics of flowers and leaves.

🏛️ Origins and Meaning

The Pugnaloni Festival commemorates Acquapendente’s liberation from the rule of Emperor Frederick Barbarossa in the 12th century, inspired—according to legend—by a miracle of the Madonna del Fiore.The townspeople, moved by the sight of a cherry tree blossoming in the middle of winter, rose up against their oppressor, marking one of the most heroic pages in their history.

The Pugnaloni—large panels decorated with natural materials—have come to symbolize this hard-won freedom.

🌼 The Pugnaloni: Ephemeral Works of Art

Each Pugnalone measures approximately 2.6 by 3.6 meters and is crafted using centuries-old techniques:

• 🌿 Leaves and petals: applied by hand, one by one, on wooden panels

• 🎨 Symbolic designs: representing the fight for freedom, peace, and spiritual renewal

• 🧑‍🎨 Teamwork: local districts and associations dedicate months to creating each masterpiece

These floral mosaics are then carried in procession through the historic center, creating a stunning, emotionally powerful spectacle.

📜 Festival Program

📆 Date

• Third Sunday in May

• In 2025: May 18th

🎉 Main Events

• 👩‍🎨 Blessing and public display of the Pugnaloni

• 🚶‍♂️ Solemn procession with the Pugnaloni parading through the town

• 🎶 Live folk music and street performances

• 🛐 Religious services at the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre

🏛️ Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre

After the festival, the Pugnaloni are exhibited year-round inside the basilica, allowing visitors to admire these masterpieces up close.

🎨 The Art of Creating a Pugnalone

Making a Pugnalone is a community affair:

• 🖌️ Initial sketch: proposed by local artists or emerging talents

• 🌿 Gathering materials: carefully selected leaves, petals, seeds, and bark

• 🧵 Assembly: meticulous application of materials, often working day and night in the week before the event

Each Pugnalone tells a story — ancient, modern, universal. It is a hymn to freedom, nature, and resilience.

🍷 Atmosphere and Side Traditions

During the festival weekend:

• 🍽️ Food stalls offer traditional Tuscia dishes

• 🍷 Local wines are available for tasting

• 🎶 Concerts and shows fill piazzas and alleys

• 🛍️ Artisan markets feature typical products and floral creations

📅 Pugnaloni Festival 2025 – Key Information

📌 Event	📆 Date	📍 Location
Pugnaloni Festival	May 18, 2025	Acquapendente (VT), Basilica & old town

Tip: Arrive on Saturday to witness the final stages of the Pugnaloni’s creation.

✨ A Journey through Art, Faith, and Identity

The Pugnaloni Festival is more than a religious or folkloric event —it is an explosion of emotion that draws the visitor into a timeless experience,where every flower tells the story of a people’s strength,and every leaf whispers a song of freedom.

Come to Acquapendente, where flowers become history and art becomes hope. 🌸🕊️