The cultivation of gaggiolo, also known as iris, in the Valdarno hills is a time-honored tradition, handed down from generation to generation. More an art than an economic activity, carefully guarded to preserve its quality and importance at the European level. Even today, many families between Castelfranco Piandiscò and Loro Ciuffenna are involved in the cultivation and processing of this extraordinary flower.
Flowering occurs in May, transforming the countryside into a painting of purple and blue hues. Harvesting begins after two to three years of plant growth. In addition to its cosmetic use, iris has medicinal properties and is known, for example, for its expectorant virtues, used in phytotherapy to deal with asthma and bronchitis.
The life cycle of the iris lasts three years, after which the plantains are prepared for processing-a delicate process that involves entire families in the warmer months, when they gather to remove the rhizomes with a special knife called a roncolo, following an ancient technique handed down from generation to generation. After washing, the rhizomes are sliced and left to dry in the sun on wooden mats, ready to be sold. The main destination is the French market, where major perfume producers are concentrated.
