CASTELLUCCIO/UMBRIA CERAMICS

DECORATION

For those who are very fond of Deruta's Ceramic Tradition some of the very traditional patterns are very familiar: the experts perfectly know the origins of the Raffaellesco Pattern, or where to locate from an historical point of view the Arcaico motifrs or again why Ricco Deruta" or "The Ricco", how it is commonly called,, immediately identifies Deruta Production.

What I would like to tell about today is how some of our phantasy-patterns, e.g. our very successful "Castelluccio"

collection comes from.

I was born in Umbria and have lived in Deruta all my life, although for business and pleasure I have been travelling abroad since I was 16 years old.

My life partners after my thirties were all living outside of Umbria, so, for some reasons, I used to travel a lot out of my region. I discovered my Umbria,, as a tourist, only after my 50's. A small piece of land placed between Florence and Rome that can be driven all across in only two hours from North to South and whose density of things worth to see is so high that three, four full weeks would be the minimum time needed to be able to enjoy the beauty of the region.

Among the less well-known poles of attraction that in my opinion, deserve a visit once

in a life are "La Foresta Fossile di Dunarobba", la "Scalzuola" and "La Fiorita di Castelluccio". This latter was a rich source of inspiration for the birth of Castelluccio ceramic collection anf its magic.

La Fiorita: The Flowering of Castelluccio di Norcia

Castelluccio di Norcia is more than a simple little Umbrian town. Castelluccio is an emotion, a magic place where men and nature blend themselves and find their harmony.

The frame in which the town is nestled speaks for itself: Castelluccio di Norcia is located in the heart of Valnerina, inside the Parco Nazionale dei Monti Sibillini (Mounts Sibillini National Park). It is situated at an altitude of 1452 meters and at a distance of few kilometers (about 28) from Norcia (PG), on the top of an hill in the middle of a large plateau.

he view includes three plains, because the plateau is divided into three sections: Pian Grande, Pian Piccolo and Pian Perduto, for a total of 15 km² surrounded by Sibillini Mounts and dominated by the imponent Vettore Mount with its 2476 meters of height.

Every year, during many weeks between May and July, an incredible mosaic of colours breaks the chromatic monotony of the grazing lands and it is able to fill eyes and heart. T

The Plateau during the Flowering of Castelluccio

Castelluccio and its plains offer a magnificent landscape every moment of the year, but a visit in this uncontaminated place is a must during the flowering!

Between the end of May and the beginning of July of each year, in fact, the plains change face and become a triumph of multicolored shades, thanks to the spectacle of nature (the case was never more appropriate for such an idiomatic expression) called "Fiorita" or "Fioritura" (the Flowering) of Castelluccio di Norcia.

Thousands of flowers bloom the plateau, bursting with colors, with shades ranging from yellow ocher to red, from violet to white. You can admire lentils (cultivated in Castelluccio, they are one of the most typical local products), gentianella, poppies, narcissuses, violets, asphodels, Eugeniae violet, clovers, oxalis and many more.

And if flora is so wonderful, fauna is not far behind: while you are walking in this "natural mosaic", maybe you will watch some gazelles or roe deers...

he best period for the flowering

Despite the Feast of the Fiorita takes place every year the third and the last Sunday of June, there is not a best or worst time to admire the flowering. And not even a climax. All depends of the meteorological season, in base of it you will find more or less species, more or less colors.

Development and tendencies of flowering are entrusted in many elements: how much it rained during Winter and Spring; the period of exposure of the sun; the planting time, especially of the lentil. Not to mention that each species of flora has a different blossom period.

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