Umbria · Deruta · Inspiration

Where our patterns come from —
the story of the Castelluccio collection

Castelluccio di Norcia   ·   Monti Sibillini   ·   La Fiorita

"I discovered my Umbria as a tourist
only after my 50s."

For those who are fond of Deruta's ceramic tradition, some of our most traditional patterns are very familiar: experts know the origins of the Raffaellesco, or where to place the Arcaico motifs from a historical point of view, or why "Ricco Deruta" — how it is commonly called — immediately identifies Deruta production.

Chapter One

Where the Castelluccio Collection Comes From

What I would like to tell you about today is how some of our fantasy patterns — and in particular our very successful "Castelluccio" collection — came to life.

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 sixteen, my life partners after my thirties were all living outside of Umbria — so for many years I used to travel a lot away from my region. I discovered my Umbria as a tourist only after my fifties.

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 seeing is so high that three or four full weeks would be the minimum time needed to enjoy the beauty of the region.

Chapter Two

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. It is situated at an altitude of 1,452 meters, a few kilometers from Norcia (PG), on top of a hill in the middle of a large plateau.

Chapter Three

The Plateau and Its Colors

The 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 the Sibillini Mounts and dominated by the imposing Vettore Mount at 2,476 meters.

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

Between the end of May and the beginning of July, the plains change face and become a triumph of multicolored shades — 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, one of the most typical local products), gentianella, poppies, narcissuses, violets, asphodels, clovers, oxalis and many more.

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

Chapter Four

The Best Period for the Flowering

Despite the Feast of the Fiorita taking place every year on the third and the last Sunday of June, there is no single best or worst time to admire the flowering. All depends on 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 to many elements: how much it rained during Winter and Spring; the period of sun exposure; the planting time, especially of the lentil. Not to mention that each species of flora has a different blossom period. Castelluccio and its plains offer a magnificent landscape at every moment of the year — but a visit during the flowering is a must.