Infiorata of Corpus Domini, Italy

The origin of the tradition of the Infiorata (decorating with flowers), on the first Sunday of June, in occasion of the festivity of Corpus Domini (Corpus Christi), goes back to 1263 in Bolsena, the town by the homonymous volcanic Lake Bolsena, in the province of Viterbo.

Infiorata and procession of Corpus Domini

It is said that a pilgrim priest on his way to Rome was celebrating mass in Bolsena. During the celebration he started having doubt about the transformation of bread into the body and blood of Christ. The tradition wants that in that very moment the consecrated bread he held in his hands started bleeding, staining the cloth under the calyx.

Infiorata and procession of Corpus Domini

The news arrived to the Pope Urban IV, who was at the time in the nearby town of Orvieto and who requested that the blood stained cloth corporal be brought to him.

During the solemn transport of the corporal from Bolsena to Orvieto the people along the road started throwing flowers petals towards the procession, in a gesture that will be emulated through the centuries with the tradition of the infiorata.

Infiorata and procession of Corpus Domini

Urban IV recognized the miracle and established the feast of Corpus Domini to commemorate the occasion each year, on the first Sunday of June and the stained cloth is to this day kept and venerated in the Duomo of Orvieto.

Today innumerable towns through Italy observe the tradition with the infiorata or a flower carpet that on the morning of the feast is laid along the route of the procession which will carry the consecrated bread through the streets of the town later in the day.

The flower petals for the Infiorata are typically scotch broom, roses, poppies, carnations, iris, cornflowers, daisies, sage. Oak leaves and many other species are also utilized for the different green hues. Today colored saw dust is often used in addition to the traditional flower petals, to allow the execution of more intricate designs.

The drawings are prepared many months in advance by special committees of each neighborhood, which typically take great pride in coming up with the best designs.

In these images the infiorata in the little, beautiful town of Vasanello, next to Orte.

All photos and text are copyright of Le Terrae.