The Infiorata of Spello is a big event and the townsfolk prepare this great spring Umbria flower festival throughout the year.
Perhaps the most critical moment is the collection of the tens of thousands of flowers and millions of petals which begins the day the last event ends.
These petals are carefully stored in time for the following Spring when the bulk of the collecting takes place from March to May. The process of conservation is a locally guarded secret.
Eventually, the flowers have to be cleaned and the petals divided by colour.
Mount Subasio is the main place from where they are taken. Everybody in town has a role and everything has to be coordinated perfectly as the colorful carpet of petals is layed along the steep streets up to the top of the historical center of Spello.
The final days before Corpus Domini see the 'infioratori' or flower designers busy locating the most beautiful flowers for finishing touches and the even the old ladies of Spello stay up late working into the night.
For 9am on the Sunday of the Festivity everything has to be ready.
By now all the Spello's roads are covered with about 70 beautiful mosaics of flowers which represent the best masterpieces by local and Italian painters from the Renaissance period to modern artists.
Each mosaic must fill a minimum space of 15mq. The petals simply lie on the floor and any light wind or rain can ruin the huge effort.
Prizes are also awarded in different categories, not least for children who will conserve the tradition for future generations.
Once the religious procession has passed, the Infiorata is considered over and the crowd are permitted to walk over these temporary works of art. I'm not sure we could bring ourselves to do so!
The petals tranquilly disperse and everybody is already thinking about the next year.
www.infioratespello.it
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