A carpet of flowers in honor of Jesus - that is how we could define these flower festivals!
Many cities in Italy are famous for this colorful and cheerful tradition, which fills every street with color, usually on the occasion of the Feast of Corpus Christi, celebrated this year on June 19. We invite you to take an imaginary tour to discover the history of flower festivals and some of the cities that bring them to life.
The history
The custom of decorating the route of religious processions with flowers has ancient roots and only a few centuries ago was transformed into a true tribute to the religious feast of Corpus Christi. In earlier times, flowers were scattered randomly over the paving stones, but techniques later became more refined: people began using only evergreen leaves, and the first beautiful carpets of broom and wild fennel emerged, embellished with designs made of cornflowers, daisies, velvety petals, and roses.
In his De florum cultura, the Jesuit Giovan Battista Ferrari describes the first flower festival held at the Vatican on June 29, 1625, for the feast of Saints Peter and Paul: “... The same flowers, stripped of their leaves and finely chopped, represent the noblest paintings in colors and forms.” This took place under the direction of Benedetto Drei. A few years later, in 1633, another floral panel was created by Stefano Speranza, a close collaborator of Bernini, who, after Benedetto Drei’s death, succeeded him as supervisor of this work.
The tradition of flower festivals later spread beyond Lazio as well. The first flower festival held for the Feast of Corpus Christi dates back to 1778 (the year when several floral panels were created on Via Sforza in Genzano) or 1782 (the year when a carpet covered the entire street). Since then, there have been numerous places where flower festivals are held to mark Corpus Christi, especially in central Italy.
Discovering flower festivals throughout Italy
Spello
Spello, in Umbria, is known for its Corpus Christi flower festivals, stunning floral decorations created by true artists who design and prepare them for months, using only plant and floral elements. Every year in Spello, around 1,500 meters of floral carpets and panels are made, inspired by religious motifs and celebrating Jesus and the Eucharistic miracle.
In Spello, artistic flower carpets created in honor of Corpus Christi date back to the very early decades of the 20th century, thanks to the initiative of a woman who, around 1930, drew a simple floral design on the street using broom flowers and fennel. The town's residents praised her work and immediately wanted to imitate it, launching a “positive” challenge to create increasingly beautiful and larger works. Thus, in a short time, the artistic composition of the flower carpet took hold, transforming the Corpus Christi celebration into a joyful occasion in which all the families, and later increasingly skilled groups of flower-carpet artists, could compare their work and reward those deemed the best for their technical skill, precision, and creativity.
Genzano di Roma
It was way back in 1778 when the streets of Genzano di Roma were filled with flower petals for the first time. Since then, every year, in conjunction with Corpus Christi, the traditional flower carpet festival has taken shape; in 2011, it was recognized by the Ministry of Tourism as “Italy’s Heritage for Tradition,” as an «expression of the ability to promote tourism and the national image, and to enhance the history and culture of the area through an interpretation suited to the present day».
Tradition dictates that the ancient Via Livia, now Via Italo Belardi, be covered with a flower carpet made up of 14 floral panels extending across nearly 2,000 square meters, using approximately 415,000 carnations in a wide variety of colors and other botanical specimens to give the panels their characteristic vivid, brilliant hues.
Noto
Noto's traditional flower carpet festival takes place on the third Sunday of May, and each edition tells a different story. The historic center is transformed into a garden, created by master flower-carpet artists twinned with those from Genzano, with whom they have shared this ancient art.
A true painting technique, the flower carpet completely covers Via Corrado Nicolaci, making use of the powerful visual impact of the perspective linking the Church of Montevergini with Palazzo Principe Nicolaci (also known as the Golden Villa), whose balconies have been called the most beautiful in the world.
If you want to feast your eyes on color and beauty, the flower carpets await you!
