Giaggiolo Festival

A festival for Tuscany's iconic flower

The Giaggiolo Festival takes place every spring in San Polo in Chianti, a village within the municipality of Greve in Chianti, in the province of Florence. The event celebrates the giaggiolo, or pale iris (Iris pallida), which turns the Tuscan hills shades of blue and purple between late April and May. It is considered one of Tuscany's most important botanical symbols, even appearing on the coat of arms of Florence.

San Polo: home of the iris since 1850

San Polo in Chianti is the historic home of the iris: cultivation of the flower has been documented here since 1850. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, this village was the primary production area in Italy and one of the most significant in Europe. The iris root, locally known as gallozza, is dried to extract its rhizomes—a precious raw material for perfumery and cosmetics, as well as a traditional natural remedy and an ingredient for liqueurs. Alongside vines and olive trees, the iris remains a defining crop of the territory, currently at the heart of a revitalization project promoted by the Municipality of Greve in Chianti and local farms.

A program of nature, culture, and gastronomy

The festival offers a rich calendar of events spread throughout the village and the surrounding countryside. Highlights include:

• Conferences and meetings dedicated to the history and properties of the iris, its uses in perfumery, and the revival of its cultivation;
• Trekking and guided walks through blooming iris fields and up to the ancient Pieve di Rubbiana, led by local guides;
• Markets featuring handicrafts, local products, and farm-to-table goods;
• Gastronomy with food stalls, themed dinners, and tastings of Chianti wines and products;
• Live music, dance evenings, and performances, concluding with traditional fireworks;
• Workshops and entertainment for children, including readings, games, and educational activities focused on discovering the flower.

A Chianti village in celebration

Organized by the San Polo Tourist Committee with the patronage of the Municipality of Greve in Chianti, the Giaggiolo Festival is a popular event deeply rooted in village life, attracting visitors from across the Florentine area. It is the perfect opportunity to discover an authentic corner of Chianti, away from the more crowded tourist circuits, immersed in hills of vines and olive groves and the purple blooms of the iris that herald the Tuscan spring.