San Pellegrino in Fiore

When the medieval quarter blooms

San Pellegrino in Fiore is the annual event that, during the May Day long weekend, turns the ancient heart of Viterbo into an open-air garden. The San Pellegrino district, with its characteristic profferli (external staircases), arches, and peperino stone houses, is considered one of the most authentic and well-preserved medieval villages in Europe. For three days, its squares and alleys are filled with floral arrangements, artistic installations, and scenic displays that engage in a dialogue with the 13th-century architecture of the City of Popes.

A tradition born in 1987

The event was conceived in 1987 by Armando Malè with the goal of showcasing the medieval quarter by blending Viterbo's historical and architectural heritage with the local nursery culture. Over nearly forty years, San Pellegrino in Fiore has evolved from a simple flower show into a defining festival for the city, symbolizing the spring rebirth for Viterbo and the entire Tuscia region. Today, the event is organized directly by the Municipality of Viterbo, which acquired the brand, with support from the Province of Viterbo, the Lazio Region, the University of Tuscia, and the Rieti-Viterbo Chamber of Commerce.

Designer installations

A hallmark of recent editions is the unified artistic and scenographic project, entrusted to an architect who creates an immersive path through the historic center's squares. In 2026, the theme «Ephemeral Visions in the City of Popes», curated by Christian Ciucciarelli, brought a giant seven-petaled metal flower to Piazza del Gesù, a suspended avenue of delphiniums on the Duomo bridge, a floral ellipse with four obelisks in Piazza del Duomo, and a ten-meter-tall tower woven with climbing flowers in Piazza San Carluccio.

What to expect during the festival

• Monumental floral installations in the historic squares
• Nursery and flower market featuring local growers
• Balconies, arches, and profferli decorated by local residents
• Historical re-enactors, ladies, and knights in the courtyards
• Art and photography exhibitions dedicated to spring
• Vintage market and special initiatives by local merchants
• Live music and family-friendly entertainment

An event for the entire Tuscia region

San Pellegrino in Fiore is much more than a flower show: it is the festival through which Viterbo celebrates its medieval identity and the agricultural and nursery vocation of the province. With the «Beyond San Pellegrino in Fiore» initiative, the event now extends to neighboring squares—Piazza del Plebiscito, Piazza delle Erbe, Piazza della Morte, and Piazza San Lorenzo—involving the local economy and surrounding neighborhoods. Admission is free, and the event is easily explored on foot, making it one of the best times of the year to discover the historic center of Viterbo, just an hour from Rome, amidst flowers, history, and timeless atmospheres.