Every April Borgo a Mozzano hosts a lovely flower festival. On even numbered years it’s the azalea festival and on odd numbered years it’s the ‘my flower festival.’ Although the latter is on a smaller scale than the azalea festival it’s still a very lively and enjoyable event.
The flower show is also a way of publicising the various towns and villages which make up the comune of Borgo a Mozzano. Here are some of the displays which I liked most, especially those with models of the villages they represented:
Here is Bagni di Lucca’s contribution:
The forestry department had a poignant display, complete with model water bomber, reminding us of the terrible fire which raged for several days on our hills last month (see https://longoio3.com/2019/04/03/our-forests-on-fire/):
Local schools had displays illustrating games from by-gone times:
Borgo’s symbol is, of course, the magnificent bridge spanning the Serchio river and built by order of the countess Matilda in the eleventh century. Here it is represented with flowers:
Here is a selection of further displays. Note the Japanese cherry blossom garden, the real cat among the bunnies, the old agricultural items, the modern technology used in making necci (chestnut pancakes) and much else.
In addition to the street displays there were also art and photographic exhibitions.
The phenomenon of David Bonaventuri and his brilliant photography is on display in its all-defying virtuosity at Borgo a Mozzano’s Library until the 28th of April. The show is titled ‘Beyond Pain’, a reference to the fact that David had to have his left leg amputated in 2012 as a result of a work accident – absolutely not his fault – when a tree fell on it. This has in no way limited David’s activities as a photographer and explorer of our area. In fact, at 5 pm on April 27th, at the Circolo dei Forestieri, a book on ancient rock engravings in our mountains in which he participated is being presented at the Sala Rosa of Bagni di Lucca’s circolo dei forestieri.
Meanwhile, here is a taster of the photography exhibition and its opening ceremony (forgive the inevitable glass reflections).
If you want to compare this year’s festival with that of the ones we have visited in previous years you can click on any of my previous posts regarding the event:
https://longoio.wordpress.com/2013/04/22/legging-it-in-leghorn/
https://longoio2.wordpress.com/2015/04/15/blooming-azaleas/
https://longoio2.wordpress.com/2016/04/13/astounding-azaleas-are-arriving/
https://longoio2.wordpress.com/2017/05/21/my-flower-is-at-borgo-a-mozzano/
https://longoio2.wordpress.com/2016/04/17/another-fabulous-borgo-azalea-festival/
https://longoio3.com/2018/04/15/borgo-blooms-again-for-its-azalea-festival/