“It was back in 1778 when the first ascent of the church of Genzano di Roma filled with flower petals. And since then every year, to coincide with the Corpus Christi, the traditional takes shape Flower Festival". To tell us about it is the site of the municipality of this town on the outskirts of the capital. And this year we are atedition number 224! Once again, it is the feeling of the people that gives life to beauty. To a beauty that is culture, faith, love for flowers and nature.
The Infiorata in Genzano as in the good old days
Finally, after the pandemic "special" edition of 2020 (which did not take place, but which was an opportunity to set in motion a solidarity with citizens in difficulty made really opportune by the unprecedented criticality of the situation) and by the reduced one of last year, a sea of multicolored petals will flood again the ascent of via Livia, today via Italo Belardi. In June, the Infiorata dresses up Genzano with an immense, colorful carpet of petals of 415.000 flowers! There are 14 paintings that almost cover 2.000 square meters of road of the city center, right under the church of Santa Maria della Cima, where the "celebrated" "lives".
The event, in fact, is one of 30 (if we have not lost count ...) flowered in Italy, from Liguria to Sicily, and was born from the love for the Savior, who wanted to remain with his family every day through the Eucharist, of which the Corpus Christi ("Body of the Lord", in Latin) is the main festival.
Almost 300 years!
That of Genzano, one of the oldest (the record goes to Gerano: which is at an altitude of 293!) is today declared "Heritage of Italy for Tradition" by the Ministry of Tourism. It seems that the infiorate were born in Rome, and that the antiquity of that of the Castelli (Gerano is nearby) is due to the links between these places of a great master of Baroque parties such as the great Neapolitan architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini. According to a historical research by the newspaper La Repubblica, the tradition was born in caput Mundi in 1625 by the florist Benedetto Drei. Then widespread in the Castelli Romani and other places in Lazio, it disappeared in Rome and was recently revived by the Pro Loco of Roma Capitale.
We work on it all year round!
“The Infiorata is an event that commits the Municipality almost 12 months a year”, They explain to Genzano. The Genzanese agenda is truly impressive: January-February: conception and preparation of the sketches. March: choice of the sketches that will be made. April: counting of flowers needed for the floral paintings. May: opening of the Infiorata construction site. And finally, in June, the month of the party, it happens "Peeling" of flowers, in addition toFlower Festival of the Boys. Which effectively hands down enthusiasm and tradition to the new generations.
And then, once the remains have been recovered ... July and August are the months of the inventory of the plant material to be kept in the caves, waiting for the next event. And in September-October the cycle begins again ... with the choice of dates (always close to the "Corpus Domini") and the theme of the decorations of the following edition. "Our Mother Earth"Is the title, more current and urgent than ever, of the 2020 Infiorata.
The infiorata was born underground
The secrets of the Infiorata are to be found underground…. On the Thursday before the party we go to underground caves of the Town Hall, where the flowers are kept (geraniums are the absolute protagonists). The "peeling" is the separation of the petals from the corollas. Which are then placed, for colors, in special boxes that are kept cool. The next day, first with chalk and then with lime, the drawings are traced on the road, which will then be filled with color thanks to cardboard cut out like templates.
The procession, and the children's party
The highest point of the religious tradition is the solemn Eucharistic procession on Sunday. The holy host goes along the road towards the church on the magnificent colored floral carpet, accompanied by the musical band, from the local folkloristic group, in an atmosphere of festive recollection.
And then comes the moment most awaited by the little ones! That is the "shoulder": while running, children happily destroy the ephemeral and humble tributes to the Blessed Sacrament, which come from the heart, where beauty is born. Most holy that, we imagine, he will not be able to avoid smiling at their children's joy.
The flower masters
Of Figure Infiorator Master is the invisible protagonist of the Infiorata. Her task is to preserve the variety of flowers in the area and combine them, like in a puzzle, composing truly breathtaking rugs. They are masters for real. They learn and teach, from father to son, to know the various species, to match the shades, to treat the petals, to distribute them and to preserve them. This year, all of this can be admired by 17 20 to June. Who can, don't miss it!
Interesting
GENZANESE friend Pamela Tulli kindly sends an image of the preparation of the INFIORATA 2022
Thanks to PAMELA TULLI from Genzano for sending us an image of the preparation of the INFIORATA 2022 directly from the neighborhood!
From Genzano, Pamela shares more images
…and again
…it must be quite a sight!
Thanks to Flavia Moretti, another “Genzanese DOC”, for the photos of the Infiorata!