Rieti in Fiore
The horticultural market exhibition that turns the historic center into an open-air garden
About Rieti in Fiore
A historic center turned into a garden
Rieti in Fiore is the horticultural market exhibition hosted by the Municipality of Rieti, in the heart of the Lazio Sabina region. For three days in May, the streets and squares of the capital city transform into an open-air garden: a route of over a kilometer starting from Porta Cintia and reaching Via Garibaldi, passing through Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II and Piazza Cesare Battisti, some of the historic center's most beautifully restored areas.
Nurserymen, botanical collections, and sustainable crafts
The core of the event is the market exhibition itself: selected nurserymen and producers arrive from all over Italy with high-quality botanical collections, ornamental plants, rare essences, and horticultural rarities hard to find in standard commercial circuits. Alongside the greenery stands, you will find sustainable crafts, garden furniture, and innovative ideas designed for both enthusiasts and industry professionals.
- Display and sale of ornamental, aromatic, and collector plants
- Thematic displays and floral installations scattered along the route
- Crafts related to greenery, ceramics, and wood
- Presence of carefully selected, nationally renowned exhibitors
Workshops, talks, and education
Rieti in Fiore is more than just a market; the event has a strong educational focus. Over the three days, there are conferences with university professors and researchers, book presentations on the agricultural and natural history of the area, and live demonstrations by artisans and green-industry professionals. Practical workshops, hosted at the exhibitors' stands, range from artisanal olive wood turning to botanical printing on paper, and from preparing essential oils to building glass terrariums.
Activities for families and children
A significant part of the program is dedicated to children, with creative workshops, educational activities on sustainability and plant care, and building games. This is one of the reasons the event has quickly become a family tradition for locals and a draw for visitors from Rome, Umbria, and Abruzzo, all located nearby.
Guided tours: flowers and courtyards
During the weekend, you can book Flowers and Courtyards guided tours, which open up historic gardens and private courtyards not usually accessible to the public, as well as stops dedicated to the Hortus Simplicium, the medieval botanical garden of Rieti located next to the Papal Palace. It is a way to discover, alongside the plants, the historical layers of a city that was once a papal seat and still retains a clearly visible medieval layout.
Rieti and the Sabina region
Located in northern Lazio, the capital of its namesake province, Rieti sits in the center of a green basin surrounded by the Reatini Mountains and Mount Terminillo, in a territory boasting an ancient agricultural and horticultural tradition, from the olive groves of the Sabina to the historic cultivation of woad, the plant used to produce blue dye. Rieti in Fiore bridges this naturalistic vocation with local commerce and the tourism revitalization of the historic center, which is why the event has received support from the Province of Rieti, the Chamber of Commerce of Rieti and Viterbo, the Varrone Foundation, and Confcommercio Lazio Nord.
Why visit
Those with a green thumb will find a level of horticultural variety rarely encountered in a city of this size. Those who don't will still find a festive, fragrant city that is completely walkable, with bars and restaurants open along the entire route and a relaxed atmosphere, far from the crowds of large trade fairs. Admission is free.
Rieti in Fiore — edition 2026
Second edition
The widespread format in the historic center was confirmed, with nurserymen's stands and floral installations distributed along the route connecting Porta Cintia to Via Garibaldi, passing through Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II and Piazza Cesare Battisti. The 2026 edition strengthened the educational aspect with a series of meetings led by university professors and expanded the range of practical workshops at the exhibitors' stands. The artistic and organizational direction was entrusted to Jean-Luc Hanel; the event was promoted by the Municipality of Rieti with Confcommercio Lazio Nord, the Varrone Foundation, the Chamber of Commerce of Rieti and Viterbo, and the Province of Rieti.
Programme Rieti in Fiore 2026
Friday, May 8th
- 4:00 PM — Opening of the floral exhibition at the Giardini del Vignola
- 5:00 PM — Conference Mountains of Biodiversity, with Dr. Alfredo Di Filippo (University of Tuscia), on the biodiversity of the Apennines — Bishop's Palace
- 6:00 PM — Presentation of the book Nella valle della cuccagna by Roberto Lorenzetti, on the history of woad and blue dye in the Rieti area — Bishop's Palace
Saturday, May 9th
- 11:00 AM — Meeting Let's talk about Biochar, with Sveva Corrado (Roma Tre University), Silvia Micheli, Elisabetta Ripaldi, and Luigi Iannitti
- From 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM — Flowers and Courtyards guided tours of historic gardens and courtyards
- 4:30 PM — Creative workshop for children Little Creatives in Bloom, led by Silvia Nulli Smuraglio — Nature Reserve
- 5:00 PM — Presentation of the ITS Agro Academy, with Dr. Eugenio Stellitteri
- All day — Practical workshops at the stands: artisanal olive wood turning with Salvatore Capoccetti; Your green space in 15 minutes, design consultations by appointment; botanical printing on paper; essential oil workshop by La Crisalide; glass terrariums with TaleWood; KAPLA building blocks for children
Sunday, May 10th
- From 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM — Flowers and Courtyards guided tours
- 5:00 PM — Conference Mediterranean Plants, with Dr. Gabriele Rasconi, dedicated to sustainable green solutions
- 6:00 PM — Closing of the event with a summary of the experiences
Throughout the event
Horticultural market exhibition with selected nurserymen and producers, displays of ornamental and rare plants, sustainable crafts, thematic installations along the route, and an exhibition dedicated to Pietro Dohrn and his role in modern ecology.
Highlights Rieti in Fiore 2026
- Exhibition route of over a kilometer in the historic center, from Porta Cintia to Via Garibaldi
- Nationally renowned nurserymen and collectors with botanical rarities
- Series of scientific conferences at the Bishop's Palace
- Flowers and Courtyards guided tours of historic gardens and the Hortus Simplicium
- Practical workshops for adults and children at the stands
- Exhibition dedicated to Pietro Dohrn
Prices Rieti in Fiore 2026
Practical information — Rieti in Fiore
How to get there
By car: Rieti can be reached from the A1 motorway (exit Ponzano Romano-Soratte, then SS4 Salaria) or from Rome along the Via Salaria, in about an hour and a half. From Terni, it takes about 40 minutes.
By train: The Rieti station is served by the Terni-L'Aquila-Sulmona line; from the station, the historic center is just a few minutes' walk away.
By bus: Numerous Cotral connections are available from Rome (Tiburtina) and the main towns of the province.
Admission and hours
Free admission throughout the entire route. The event is spread across the historic center and can be visited throughout the day; the Flowers and Courtyards guided tours generally take place from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM and require booking by calling 327 8348252.
Practical tips
- The route is over a kilometer long: comfortable shoes are recommended.
- The historic center is largely pedestrianized during the event: it is best to park in areas outside the walls.
- During the first edition, the city's accommodation facilities filled up quickly: if you are staying overnight, it is best to book in advance.
- Combine your visit with: the Papal Palace, the Hortus Simplicium, and the bridges over the Velino River.
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Where does it take place — Rieti in Fiore
Centro storico di Rieti (da Porta Cintia a via Garibaldi)
Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, 02100 Rieti