In San Polo in Chianti, a hamlet in the municipality of Greve in Chianti and home of the iris, the festival dedicated to the flower that is the symbol of Tuscany will explode. A tradition kept alive by the community that will once again flood the Greve in Chianti hamlet with scents, flavours and events from 1 to 4 May 2025, with conferences, music, tradition, gastronomy, entertainment and workshops for children.
The event, organised by the Comitato Turistico San Polo and supported by the Municipality of Greve in Chianti, turns the spotlight on the properties of the plant, which has become a symbol of Greve's economy over the years. The iris is one of the main products of the area, which integrates well with the other typical cultivations of the Chianti hills, vines and olives; the tradition of this plant is carried on by a number of historic local companies that have been promoting a significant development and valorisation process for years.
The iris concentrated its economic importance in Tuscany in the period between the 19th century and the middle of the last century. The important turning point for cultivation occurred in San Polo around 1860 and was due to the stubbornness and enterprise of two local growers, father and son, Adriano and Attilio Piazzesi. While San Polo has always been a major centre of iris production, its cultivation has also spread to Lamole, Lucolena and Radda in Chianti.
