The inspiring event has its origin in the custom, ancient and spontaneous, of throwing flowers at the passage of the solemn procession of the Corpus Domini. Differently from the past, however, colouring the roads of the town today are no longer the flowers launched casually on the road, but a carpet of images inspired by religious and social themes, or taken by the history of art. Indicating all the “infiorate” in Italy would be colossal work: there are hundreds of them, some of ancient tradition, other more recent. Not all of them however have the weight of the 'historical' ones: that of Genzano of Rome; that of Spello; the baroque Spring festival of Noto and the infiorata of Diano Marina.

These four towns, the day of the Infiorata, wake up to fascinating patterns and coloured arabesques, a result of the knowing work of artists, who cover the roads with a long floral carpet. The flowers invade the streets, with compositions inspired by religious and profane themes. The procession, when it is held, proceeds among the smell of roses, violets and cyclamens.

As mentioned above, the festival of the Infiorata does not just have a sacred value: it is also a profane tribute to Spring. Noto, for example, gives homage to the flower season dedicating a day, every third Sunday of May, to the decoration of via Nicolaci. The road of the town in entirely covered by local artists with flower peals, stems, shiny grit. Mythology, religion and popular culture merge together bringing back to life the glorious past of this town.

Traces of the Infiorata, a display unique in the world and splendid synthesis between the beauty of nature and human ingenuity, can also be found in the memorials of the great European travellers, among which Byron and Goethe. But to have a better idea of the greatness of the event it is worth taking it in personally.

April.2002

Municipality of Noto (In Italian)
Municipality of Spello  (In Italian)
Municipality of Poggio Moiano (In Italian) 
Municipality of Genzano di Roma (In Italian)