We visited the small central Italy towns of Sutri & Bolsena during the Catholic Feast of Corpus Christi, the Festa del Corpus Domini (the Body of Christ) celebrated nine weeks after Easter.
Throughout Italy the Feast of Corpus Christi is linked with the Infiorata, meaning 'decorate with flowers'. The floral carpets and decorations are an ancient tradition still celebrated every June.
Chalk, paint, paper patterns, mud, coffee grounds or sawdust are used to outline the design before flower petals, buds, seeds, beans, grasses etc are used to fill in the design. After planning for up to a year in advance, church groups, social groups, and families all work together. The design is outlined on the streets the previous day with the flowers added overnight or early on the Sunday morning. They remain for only a few hours before they are walked over after evening Mass, only to be swept away soon afterwards.
Back in Bracciano, in time to watch the evening Corpus Domini procession
as it makes its way across the center of the floral displays.
A little gelato is the perfect refresher while walking along 6 - 7 km of flower paved streets.
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