Rivara Flower Festival

A riot of petals in the heart of the Canavese

The Rivara Flower Festival is one of the most evocative floral events in Piedmont. It takes place within the church of San Giovanni Decollato, the ancient seat of the Badia dei Quaranta del Drapò, in the town of Rivara, a small village in the Canavese area near Turin. For a few days, the floor of the church is blanketed in thousands of petals, creating a large-scale contemporary floral installation made of hundreds of roses in various colors, arranged into intricate, multicolored geometric patterns.

An ephemeral work of art

Unlike traditional flower festivals set up along village streets, the Rivara event is born inside a sacred space, where filtered light and silence amplify the impact of the work. Visitors can admire the composition by walking along a dedicated path or from above, from a raised vantage point in the choir, to grasp the full design. The installation is curated by the Circolo Artisti La Rosa delle Idee of Salassa, in collaboration with the Amici della Certosa Reale di Collegno and local associations, which reinvent the theme and colors of the work each year.

Music, candles, and atmosphere

The festival is not just visual art, but also a musical and sensory experience. The inauguration features a string quartet concert, while the highlight is the celebrated Candlelight Flower Festival: with the lights dimmed and the notes of a harp playing, the petals take on new reflections, and the entire nave transforms into a moment of pure magic. The final Sunday is dedicated to free public visits, open to families and curious visitors alike.

A widespread event

The Rivara Flower Festival is part of a weekend packed with initiatives in the Canavese village. It traditionally takes place concurrently with the Italian Ice Cream Festival at Villa Ogliani and the guided walks organized by the Rivara Guide Group, which lead visitors to discover the town, its hidden corners, and its heritage. It is the perfect opportunity to combine the beauty of floral art with a day in the green landscape of the Canavese.

Between art and Piedmontese tradition

The event is a prime example of how small communities in Piedmont can enhance their historical and religious heritage through the language of contemporary art. The church of San Giovanni Decollato, a hidden gem to be rediscovered, thus becomes the protagonist of an event capable of attracting visitors from across the Canavese and the Turin metropolitan area.