We want to go to the L'Infiorata in Italy this year, but would appreciate some guidance on what town/festival is the best and why. Bolsena, Spello and Orvieto are all in the running.
Thanks.

We have been to the Infiorata in Spello on two occasions spanning about eight years. As expected, our first visit eight years ago was magical and inspiring. A good piece of advice is to get there early as the workers will have been working feverishly overnight to meet the mid morning unveiling and subsequent procession at about noon. Parking is a challenge even at 7:30-8 am but the crowds are friendly and they move slowly as you make your way up and down the village. Spectacular presentations and all variety of themes.

Last June, we attended again and we noticed a change. Because of constant winds sweeping through the town, the various groups were prepared with huge awnings and tents covering their masterpieces. This restricted viewing access somewhat and concentrated the crowds but the structures were removed in mid-morning for full viewing while the winds had their way.

I definitely think Spello is a good site for this special occasion but be aware that many other towns and villages do a similar but less extensive celebration. We have viewed the remains of the floral exhibitions in Montefalco and Tuoro sul Trasimeno. Enjoy!

I've been to the Infiorata in Spello and loved it.

I have also been to the Infiorata in Pitigliano (not on your list but a great place to visit) and thought it was just as wonderful.

Your title caught my eye and I had to look it up. Just in case you don't get enough personal recommendations here, there are several articles online:
http://www.italymagazine.com/feature...arpets-flowers

https://worldloveflowers.com/three-o...ata-festivals/

https://aweekinumbria.com/spello-infiorata/

We once visited the infiorata in Spello. We arrived the evening before so that we could see the people at work. They are required to wait until a certain hour (can't remember which) to begin. The work was fascinating to watch. Some of the teams are almost professional, and arrive with "paint by number" schemes to follow. Others are very amateur. There were even teams of local children. Other than the actual mosaic painters, there were squads of people tearing up plant material and sorting it by color. Some of the teams had entertainment. I remember one group had a few guitar players to help them stay awake.

We spent the night in a motor lodge just outside Perugia. We returned early the next morning, when the finishing touches were feverishly being added. Then the processions through the streets destroys all the work.

I haven't see the other infiorate you mention, so I can't compare. Some towns have very loose definitions of what can be used. Our town has recently begun allowing coffee grounds and chicken feed, on the principle that they're plant matter. It gives them more colors to work with, but the effect is rather monotonous. Sadly, the people willing and able to devote hours and entire days to this sort of cultural activity are fewer and more elderly every year.

Thank you all! Bvlenci, I was glad to see your post about the evening activities, which I find even more fascinating. Any further insight or recommendations you have would be appreciated. i.e. How many blocks does it cover? Did you stay well into the night? Were visitors welcome, or even noticed? Is there opportunity to help?etc.etc. Grazie mille.

The streets of Spello are curvy, and there's no concept of "blocks". Let's just say it covers a good part of the historic centre. We did stay late, but I can't say just how long. I also don't remember when the work starts.

There were lots of visitors, so they couldn't help but be noticed. They were not unwelcome, but keep in mind that this is a serious competition for most of the teams, so they wouldn't be tolerant of anything that interferes with the work at hand. I don't think you can expect to help, unless that's a new feature. The really serious teams certainly wouldn't want amateurs interfering, and the competition may even have rules about it.

Our town lets anyone help, but it doesn't have anywhere near the quality of the Spello infiorata. And now that coffee grounds, cracked corn (chicken feed) and grass clippings make up the bulk of the raw material, the quality has gone done even further.

RE: How many blocks? Spello is a hillside town and the floral presentations go from the bottom to the very top of the village. There is a circuit of sorts which has visitors sidling alongside the presentations being careful not to disturb the fragile creations. Depending on the crowds, it can be a long, slow walk of at least a couple of hours.
With regards to participation, I don't have any specifics but this is fairly serious business with neighborhoods banding together along with various organizations--I can't imagine being allowed to just "jump in" without some personal contacts.
I suggest you just plan on attending on this first visit and get the spirit and feel of the celebration--it has a religious backdrop and one doesn't need to interfere.

When we were there, at least some of the teams came from distant places, so it wasn't just neighborhoods.

Thanks. Will follow your advise with a stop in Montefalco too.