The traditional Infiorata of Genzano di Roma

Every year on the occasion of Corpus Christi, the streets of Genzano di Roma come alive by coloring themselves with flower petals. The Infiorata is an event that has its roots in 1778 and has a strong religious connotation, but also a folkloric one, so much so that in 2011 it obtained the recognition of Heritage of Italy for Tradition. It engages citizens for nearly 12 months, starting in February with the design of the sketches of the paintings (following a theme established from year to year by a special committee) created using flower petals of various colors, particularly carnations. The first stage-the "stripping" of the flowers-begins on Thursday, when the separation of the petals from the corollas occurs, which are then divided according to color and kept inside some rooms of the Municipal Palace. The next stage, takes place on Friday, when the pavement of Via Italo Belardi (the ancient Via Livia), is divided into 14 pictures and the outlines are traced with chalk, lime and the spolvero technique (perforated cardboard). Between Saturday and Sunday mornings, the outlines are filled with petals, giving rise to a stunning work of art by the Master Florists, spanning nearly 2,000 square meters. On Sunday afternoon, the Corpus Christi procession takes place, and on Monday the protagonists become the children, who have fun during the "spallamento" playing and undoing the paintings.