Notte Viola (Lavender Day)

A night entirely dedicated to lavender

Notte Viola is the most anticipated summer event in Casola Valsenio, a small municipality in the Senio Valley in the province of Ravenna, in the heart of Emilia-Romagna and at the foot of the Regional Park of the Romagnol Gypsum Vein. For a whole day, the village changes color and is enveloped in shades of purple, in homage to the lavender that blooms on the surrounding hills and has been one of the symbols of this town, known as the "Village of Herbs," for decades.

From the Herb Garden to the historic center

The festival originates and grows around the renowned "Augusto Rinaldi Ceroni" Herb Garden, one of the most important botanical gardens dedicated to medicinal plants in Italy. It is here that, starting in the morning, Lavender Day begins: guided tours among the lavender fields, practical demonstrations of transforming lavender into essential oil, themed aperitifs, and snacks. As the afternoon wanes, the festivities move to the historic center, where streets and squares fill with markets, workshops for children, exhibitions, installations, and scents, culminating in dinner in the square organized by the Pro Loco.

When the festival becomes night

After sunset, the event transforms into a true open-air village festival: evening strolls through the purple-lit streets, live music, and, late at night, a DJ set with cocktails and an atmosphere that lasts until the early hours. It is a free event, widely participated in, and deeply connected to the community, organized by the Pro Loco of Casola Valsenio along with local organizations.

Why it's worth it

Notte Viola combines the naturalistic dimension of blooming lavender, the herbal tradition of Casola Valsenio, and the typical conviviality of Romagna festivals into a single day. An opportunity to discover a village in the Faenza Apennines, far from the major tourist flows, amidst hills, medicinal herbs, and good Romagna cuisine.