Every year, between spring and summer, the spotlight shines on the small village of Castelluccio di Norcia, in the province of Perugia in Umbria. The inhabited center is indeed surrounded by fields that today offer a wonderful natural spectacle: the blooming of lentil flowers and other floral species.
During this period, the Castelluccio plain transforms into an enchanting palette of colors that deserves to be admired at least once in a lifetime! In this article, we want to give you all the information about when to see the blooming of Castelluccio di Norcia and how to get there for a wonderful day trip in the heart of Umbria.
What Exactly Is “The Blooming”
The bloomingas it is commonly called in the area, is an event that occurs once a year during the months from mid-May to mid-July on the plateau surrounding the village of Castelluccio, just a few kilometers from Norcia.
Here, one of Umbria’s culinary excellences is cultivated, the Castelluccio PGI lentilThis tradition has been carried on for millennia, according to some historical sources dating back to 3000 BC, and it continues to fascinate and attract many people and tourists from all over the world.
It is often mistakenly believed that the blooming concerns only the lentils. However, the colorful scenes are also due to the presence of other floral speciessome of which are weeds but whose presence allows the soil to maintain the characteristics necessary for the growth of legumes.
The lentil flowers give shades of pink, white, and light blue; the cornflowers add splashes of purple and blue; yellow comes from sinapis arvensis, the wild mustard and red from papaver rhoeas, the common poppyThis colorful and fragrant bouquet is complemented by many other wild plants for a unique vision in the world!
Where the Blooming Takes Place
The village of Castelluccio today has just over 120 inhabitants and was unfortunately severely damaged by the earthquake that struck central Italy in 2016. Although small, it is a place full of charm that overlooks from about 1240 meters above sea level the plateau known today for discovering all the events available in Italy and worldwide to travel in the company of new friends.