The Pugnaloni are Acquapendente's signature festival. Every year, on the third Sunday of May, the historic centre fills with large compositions made of petals, leaves and plant materials, built by local groups in honour of the Madonna del Fiore. The tradition is linked to the memory of the city's liberation from the rule of Frederick Barbarossa in 1166: over time, the old decorated goads evolved into today's large figurative panels, becoming collective works that combine technique, competition and devotion.
How the Pugnaloni are made
The works take weeks to prepare. Sketches and designs are covered with cut plant elements applied one by one, aiming for shading, shadow and detail without any artificial colouring. The result is especially striking up close, when you can pick out the leaves, petals, bark and other natural materials used like tiles in a mosaic.
The festival in the old town
On the day of the event, the Pugnaloni are displayed along the streets and squares of Acquapendente. A jury awards the best works, while the town also observes the religious programme tied to the Madonna del Fiore.
A tradition worth seeing at least once
The Pugnaloni are more than a simple flower display: the scale of the panels, the technique involved and the participation of local groups make this a highly distinctive event, deeply tied to local identity.
