Mostra Nazionale della Camelia
A new season is beginning...
And with the arrival of spring also arrive the flower shows to kick off the season. This year marks the 44th annual Mostra Nazionale della Camelia di Verbania e di Cannero Riviera, the National Camelia Show. In the two locations, Villa Giulia in Verbania and in the Sala Arch. Pietro Carmine in Cannero Riviera, over 300 varieties of camelias, both older and new, will be on display. There is a theme each year for the camelia show. This year the theme will center around two celebrated cameliophiles from literature. Marguerite Gautier, the courtier in the moving story written in 1848 by Alexander Dumas, "La Dame aux Camelias," and Violetta Valery, the main character of Verdi's Traviata. In Verbania, the inside of the villa is decorated with images taken by celebrated Italian photographer Graziella Viga for her show "La Traviata: Quell'Amor ch'e' Palpito." And in Cannero, visitors will be greeted, in the elegant 19th century salon, by hosts dressed in the attire of that era.
Both locations will offer a sale of camelia plants, books, and other items with a floral theme. And tea will be served, a special tea made from the extract of camelia leaves. Over in Cannero, each day at 2:00 pm, one can also take a stroll through the woods, the Bosco delle Camelia di Cheggio, a beautiful area with a view of the castles of Cannero.
Here's the link to the Web site for Camelia in Mostra: www.cameliainmostra.it
The show will be open Saturday and Sunday, March 20 and 21, In Verbania 10:30 am - 7:00 pm on Saturday and 9:00 am until 7:00 pm. on Sunday. In Cannero, 11:30 am until 7:00 pm on Saturday, 10:00 am until 7:00 pm on Sunday.
I attended the show last year at the beautiful Villa Giulia. Not only were the flowers breathtaking, but there were waiters serving champagne, and the most delightful little appetizers distributed in tiny individual bowls. There were also vendors, selling camelia bushes of various sizes and colors. I couldn't resist buying a bush with white blossoms, which I carefully carried home to Stresa with me on the ferry. It blooms there still, in a large terracotta planter on a lovely terrace.
Category Article events, spring
