The Infiorata Flower Festival of Itri
During the month of June the Feast of Corpus Domini attracts many visitors to Itri for the fIniorata or Flower Festival. This is a real community event involving many hours of dutiful planning, preparation, co-
The Preparation of the Flowers
A day or two before the festival, a team of volunteers, each armed with a pair of scissors and a cardboard box, begin to prepare for the Infiorata by cutting up the flowers. Most of the flowers are carnations, however sometimes other flowers are also used. Every part of the flower head is used, including the green bases.
Early in the morning of the Feast of Corpus Domini work starts on the individual designs. The outlines are chalked onto the road’s tarmac or alternatively a paper template can be used. Then begins the painstaking task of laying the coloured petals to begin to form the floral tapestries. It is a wonderful community event where both young and old enjoy taking part.
The Completed Floral Designs
On the Sunday afternoon people come from far and wide to see the beautiful completed artistic floral designs.
The Procession
The parish priest walks under an ornate embroidered canopy that is held aloft by some of Itri’s townsmen. The priest’s shoulders are covered with a silk cloak, the ends of which are used to prevent his hands from touching the sacred sacrament that is held aloft in a special holder known as a monstrance. The priest pauses at intervals along the route of the procession of Corpus Domini to offer prayers and bless the various districts of the town.
At the close of the ceremony the priest and his group of little angels walk over the floral carpet back towards the main parish church.
