Every year for Corpus Domini (60 days after Easter), over seventy stunning floral tapestries carpet piazza and winding alleyways of medieval hilltown gem, Spello, fruit of months of flower-gathering and then all-night work to create the flower masterpieces, le Infiorate.
A few of Spello’s Infiorate marvels…..
On the morning of Corpus Domini, as as the spellani floral groups are anxiously adding final touches to their masterpieces in time for the Procession, the assisani start to lay out their floral designs on the narrow backstreets, boxes of flower petals ready nearby to fill in the images. Assisi’s Infiorate are fewer – and most are less complicated – but they are created with the same intense passione, spanning all generations.
..and see that passione of all ages here:
As you walk Assisi’s medieval backstreets taking in the floral splendors, you’ll smell that pungent wild fennel (used for the greens), the perfume of wild broom (for the yellow) and the fragrance of the roses (pinks, reds). Here and there, you might see clutches of the elderly women still snipping away at the flowers. Note the altar, ready to welcome the Procession which heads out from the Cathedral of San Rufino about 7 pm. As in Spello in the morning, the Consecrated Host will be carried over the floral tapestries, created to welcome Christ.
All ages join to create Infiorata splendor (and thanks to Judy Thomas for use of her photos, too):
This year’s Assisi Infiorate masterpiece? Artist Silvia’s angel by an Umbrian Renaissance master, Pinturicchio. Have a look:
But each Assisi infiorata was a masterpiece: of local passione, united and spanning the ages.
Click here to read about – and see! – the Spello Infiorate
See Pinturicchio’s early 16th fresco wonders with me in Spello
Click here for more on an Assisi Infiorata
Read more on Assisi floral passione
Read about the floral welcome to Pope Francis in Assisi, October 4, 2013
Read about Renaissance painter, Pinturicchio
Read about Italian passione, lived in the festivals
Once again, once again, once again, Annie:
Always your words and photos are incomparable.
This festival shows us the heart of Assisi, in its beauty, community, cooperation, art, history culture, fun and delight, love, and Being in the Now as it should be —- and so much more. This is what our global family should be all about! Thank you for sharing!
Absolutely stunning works of art! The passion and dedication required to create these is so evident! Thanks for sharing, Anne. I only wish our timing in Assisi had worked out better so that we could have experienced these splendorous displays in person.
Troppo Bello! So very beautiful, and what a wonderful way to get together and make something so big and wonderful, with flowers, no less!
Thanks again, Anne
Such lovely words, Catherine. Mille grazie and glad you enjoyed
Such beautiful photos! I enjoyed your article and would love to come to Assisi to see all those wonderful flower pictures.
What a great place to live!
Thanks to each for your comments on our wondrous event!
Come some year for Corpus Domini, 60 days after Easter!