"Estate Nursina" and "Corteo Storico" - historical parade
Around 23 March and 27 August
With the arrival of spring, Norcia celebrates its patron saint in an ancient ceremony offering of "ceri" and "palleii" to St Benedict,
by the town's surrounding castles and from the city's six 'quarters', guaite.
This festa includes folk music, dancing and shows in the main piazza and involves
the inhabitants of Norcia and all the surrounding villages.
The historical parade usually includes over a hundred participants dressed in
mediaeval costume and represents the ancient Norcia magistrature. This Corteo
Storico features members from each "guaita" (town quarter) and "castello" (surrounding village), as
laid down in the Norcia statutes printed in Perugia in 1526.
During the afternoon, the guaite compete in a crossbow (ballestra) contest in the main
piazza of Norcia. The celebrations end with a procession through the streets bearing the reliquary of St Benedict,
who is also patron Saint of Europe.
Mostra Mercato Nazionale del Tartufo Nero
National Black Truffle Festival and Market.
Last weekend of February
In the last weekend of February every year there is the Mostra Mercato Nazionale del Tartufo Nero Pregiato di Norcia e dei Prodotti tipici della
Valnerina. This event has grown to international status in recent years and is
of top interest to lovers of prosciutto, salame, capocollo, ricotta, fresh and seasoned cheeses and, naturally, the
famous Norcia black truffle, as well as a host of other local
specialities. Representatives from China, Hungary, Poland and Russia
as well as countries from the European Union also display their wares. The entire event takes place in the open air, in the Piazza San
Benedetto.
Fiorita di Castelluccio
Usually in June
The Fiorita di Castelluccio, a small village in the Apennines at 1453
m. above sea level, just a few km. from Norcia, generally takes place in June but can vary from season to season. It is the spring flowering in the Piano Grande, beneath snow-capped peaks of Monte Vettore,
when the monotone plain suddenly bursts into colour as the
local flower species bloom. The fiorita attracts a large number of flower-lovers from all over the world. This is
also where the renowned Castelluccio lentils are grown.
Ri Fauni a Norcia
9 December
The celebration known as “ri fauni” takes place on 9
December. This is a Christianised pagan festival of bells that celebrates the moving
of the Madonna from Nazareth to Loreto, in the night of 9 December, 1291.
Click
this link for other
Festivals
of Umbria.
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