“San Pellegrino in celebration will return to color the medieval historic centre, we want to involve as many people as possible and make them feel part of a project”

Economy – Viterbo – Irene Temperini, president of Pro loco, talks about the great event scheduled for June 21st, 22nd and 23rd: “Several associations have already joined, among this year’s novelties there is also a craft market”

by Maurizia Marcoaldi

Viterbo – “San Pellegrino in celebration will return to color the medieval historic centre, we want to involve as many people as possible and make them feel part of a project”. Irene Temperini, president of the Pro loco of Viterbo, describes the event which is scheduled for next 21, 22, 23 June. Returning to the historic center of the capital of Tuscia will be San Pellegrino in celebration.

“We are full of enthusiasm and ready to go. The event will be led by the Pro Loco and Tetraedro Compagnia Teatrale, also because a winning team cannot be changed”, adds Irene Temperini.

This year’s is the second edition. It all started in 2023 when the administration decided not to confirm Viterbo in bloom. Hence the idea of ​​creating something alternative, but still linked to the historic district and the period dedicated to the traditional horticultural event. Pro loco and Tetrahedro Compagnia Teatrale had created Viterbo in festa, between the end of April and early May, and then San Pellegrino in festa, between the end of September and early October.

Irene Temperini

In June San Pellegrino returns to celebrate. A second edition led, just like last year, by Pro loco and Tetrahedro Compagnia Teatrale?
“Yes, we are full of enthusiasm and ready to go. The event will be led by the Pro Loco and Tetraedro Compagnia Teatrale, also because a winning team cannot be changed. The dates for this year are June 21, 22, 23. We will start from Friday afternoon and continue with Saturday and Sunday. We deliberately made the initiative coincide with the summer solstice. We are ready to return to bring joy and an air of celebration to the historic center of Viterbo, in the wake of what we did last year when, after the municipality had slowed down the Viterbo in Bloom initiative, we rolled up our sleeves and gave life, with the help of many associations and entities, in Viterbo in celebration and then San Pellegrino in celebration. We tried to make up for a lack. We didn’t feel like betraying what was a city and also tourist expectation. We have collected the various territorial requests.”

Associations and businesses are also involved. How many have already signed up?
“At the moment several associations have already joined. It is a growing and constantly changing number. We will also have the collaboration of Banca Lazio Nord and Carramusa Group. We are in the organization phase and there will be the first meeting soon. Our desire is to network in the area and collaborate. We want to carry forward a synergy between different realities, all united in the aim of doing good in Viterbo. We want everyone to feel involved in a single project. Everyone will be an active part. The more involvement there is, the better the events go.”

Viterbo – San Pellegrino in festa – 2023 edition – Some organizers, from left Sara Pratali, Irene Temperini, Francesco Cerra, Vera Anelli, Rosanna Stoppani

Where will the event focus? Which part of the city will be affected?
“The event will focus on the medieval part of the capital of Tuscia. We made a request to the municipality a month ago to be able to set up the main squares of the historic center. We were told that there was no overlap with other events and therefore we proceed with the organization. So, regardless of whether the municipality issues a tender or not, we will still hold the event. Then, obviously, if the municipality of Viterbo were to issue a public announcement for summer initiatives, we will participate for San Pellegrino in festa. So if there is support, fine, otherwise we will continue anyway. For now we have asked for patronage and we are moving forward. We are happy that the municipality supports us, but we believe that good ideas find the arms and legs in the city to walk on their own.”

Preparations are still in the early stages. But are any planned initiatives already defined?
“We are still at the beginning. But we will definitely have a craft market. Furthermore, Villa Rosa will return to set up Piazza Scacciaricci with the full involvement of patients in the project to beautify the spaces. And then we also had the support of the PD council group which, like last year, will take care of an exhibition”.

Viterbo – San Pellegrino in celebration – 2023 edition

San Pellegrino in fiore will start soon. Will the Pro Loco be involved in some way?
“The Pro loco of Viterbo will not participate in the organization. We will carry out collateral initiatives with guided tours and the ‘Open Churches’ project of the diocese of Viterbo. In the first case these are tours, organized by Vera Nelli, for May 1st and 5th, at 10 am, and for May 4th, at 3.30 pm. All visits will start from the Pro loco infopoint in Via San Lorenzo 6.

Then there will be the diocese project with which we are collaborating, thanks also to the wonderful availability of the beauty volunteers. We will keep seven churches open on the days of the event. These are the churches of Santa Andrea, San Marco, San Giovanni in Zoccoli, San Sisto, San Giovanni Battista del Gonfalone, the Basilica della Quercia, the church of Suffrage and Truth with the Mazzatosta chapel. We will hold these two events because we believe that the visitor, beyond the exhibition, can and should benefit from the historical and artistic heritage, which is the fundamental characteristic of our city”.

Viterbo – San Pellegrino in celebration – 2023 edition

This second edition is born in the wake of what was already done last year. An event that had resonance and much participation. Are you aiming for an encore?
“Last year was a positive one. We ourselves didn’t expect it. A result achieved also thanks to those who supported us. In communication, Tusciaweb helped us convey the message, Fiorillo Impresa Edile mounted the rainbow that colored the streets of the centre. And many other companies have sponsored us. Also thanks to these realities we have achieved an important result. This is why I will never tire of saying that San Pellegrino in festa aims to be a choral event, capable of involving as many people as possible. We can do great things if everyone feels part of the project. The initiatives must be done in the city but also for the city. What we hope is that there will be days of joy and celebration, where Viterbo and the love we have for it will be at the centre.

It will be a street event. We are open to any form of collaboration. So anyone who wants to join can contact us. The strength of this event is in the chorality, in the group. In the involvement the various enthusiasms. We do not believe in top-down initiatives, but in those of transversal involvement. We aim to share with as many realities as possible and as many people as possible.”

Maurizia Marcoaldi

April 19, 2024