The Feast of Corpus Domini is celebrated wtih astounding floral splendor in the flower tapestries winding through Spello’s medieval backstreets – as you can see in the Spello Infiorate Facebook page.
Thousands arrived in early morning to take in the splendor as the multitudinous Infiorate (°”flowerings”) were being complete in preparation for the procession winding through the town at 11 a.m. when the consecrated Host would be carried over the floral carpets (forty this year).
I was there as always.
Si! magnifico. Splendido. Stupendo. Indescribable….and here is just a detail of the winning Spello Infiorate, “Il Bacio di Giuda” (“The Kiss of Judas”):
But what pleasure this year as always to view the few floral gems created in the afternoon in an area of the Assisi backstreets near the Cathedral of San Rufino – as welcome to the Host being carried out of the Cathedral in procession about 6 30 pm, after Mass.
In Assisi, all joined in the creation of just a couple “quadri” (or “paintings, pictures”).
The image of one Infiorata quadro was created by graphic artist, Francesco Mancinelli and represented San Francesco receiving the stigmata on Mt. LaVerna in Tuscany in the early 13th century. This creation celebrated the 800th anniversary of that event:
Near the floral splendor, embroidered tablecloths were draped from windows, a sign of homage – as if flags- for the procession which would soon pass….
Another Assisi infiorata quadro – entitled “Germogli di Pace” (“Buds of Peace”) – spread out below a medieval house draped in jasmine.
The perfume of the jasmine climbing the walls intermingled with the pungent smell of finocchio selvatico (“wild fennel”) used to created the dark green in the Infiorata.
The peace sign – in yellow broom – rested on a hand created with white carnations.
Floral runners – tappetti – carpeted a few of Assisi’s winding medieval backstreets:
The traditional altar adorned with Assisi cross-stitch marked the end of the procession route
Signora Rinaldi – living nearby – had embroidered the San Francesco rising on the altar and the altar cloth:
The procession soon passed in front of the altar, confraternity members preceding singing nuns and priests…
The Sacred Host would conclude the procession – and do see here photos of the floral wonders of Assisi, 2024, and their creeation: https://www.assisinews.it/eventi/infiorate-2024-ad-assisi-centro-e-frazioni-si-rinnova-la-devozione-per-il-corpus-domini-foto/
See this note on Spello’s floral majesty (and many more notes on m blog)
See this note on Assisi’s floral wonders (and many more on my blog.
Beautiful!
Come next hear for Corpus Domini..June 22, 2025!