I was up bright and early on Sunday morning in Spello to see the progress on the flower carpets. At 6.30am the blockaded areas were alive with tired looking people putting finishing touches to their works of art.
It is just as well I scooted around early as the streets were full of people by 8.00am, making it difficult to get close to the work.
Anyway, here are some of the completed carpets. I think you will be amazed. In very few cases was I able to get a high vantage point, so there are some odd angles.
I did have a favourite.
I stayed at the very fabulous Palazzo Bocci in the main street. I managed to hang out of a window to see one carpet from above.
I positioned myself in front of the church to watch the entourage enter for the mass.
You can just see the top of a hat as its wearer enters the church.
Then I waited in the hot sun for them to reappear and walk the carpets.
The carpet survived its first trampling and most people walked carefully beside them on their way up the street. It seems a shame they don’t last forever.
After one more look from the window I called it a day and went home.
I wonder how long the carpets last before they are blown away by the wind and kicked by countless feet…anyway there is always next year.
Amazing !!!
By: Wandering Iris on June 24, 2014
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It is a beautiful thing to see.
By: Debra Kolkka on June 25, 2014
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Memories abound in my heart from our visit duriing this “festa” in 2012….the handful of pedals I collected that morning after the procession still as colorful as two years ago. Amazing!!!
By: sealights99 on June 24, 2014
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It is a beautiful tradition. Now I want to visit other towns taking part.
By: Debra Kolkka on June 25, 2014
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These carpets are beautiful beyond belief, Debra. Thank you so much for your wonderful photos. I enjoyed them so much. 🙂
By: anotherday2paradise on June 24, 2014
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The detail is incredible.
By: Debra Kolkka on June 25, 2014
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Yes it is. So much artistic talent in that town. 🙂
By: anotherday2paradise on June 25, 2014
at 6:43 am
Beautiful – and then they get walked on a disappear?
By: Alison Downey on June 24, 2014
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Yes, the flower carpets are worked on all night and then walked on a few hours after being finished.
By: Debra Kolkka on June 25, 2014
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Beautiful pictures. Thanks. Sad the beauty can’t last very long.
By: Joan Schmelzle on June 24, 2014
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Yes, all that work just to be blown away.
By: Debra Kolkka on June 25, 2014
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Amazing pictures , Deb , almost as good as being there !
By: Anonymous on June 24, 2014
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Thank you, it was a great place to be.
By: Debra Kolkka on June 26, 2014
at 11:56 am
Fabulous! Thank you, Debra!
By: mulino dominillo on June 24, 2014
at 10:04 pm
It was fun to be part of it.
By: Debra Kolkka on June 25, 2014
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Simply stunning!
By: timelessitaly on June 24, 2014
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It is an amazing festival. I would like to see it in other towns as well.
By: Debra Kolkka on June 25, 2014
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Yes, that would be gorgeous! It takes a lot of talent i’m sure to be able to do this.
By: timelessitaly on June 25, 2014
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What a sight to behold with the finished product!!! I was interested to see how the flowers were constructed into relief patterns which would be a shame to flatten them in the walk. All that hard intricate work to be trampled on the next day. What is the significance of that ritual? Glad to see the crowds kept clear to allow others to admire the artwork. The spell of Spello is still magical. Stunning photos, Deb!
By: Sandra Hoopmann on June 25, 2014
at 12:43 am
I don’t really know how the tradition began, but it is a beautiful thing to do.
By: Debra Kolkka on June 25, 2014
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What a wonderful tradition! How they achieve that artistry is beyond my comprehension; it would he difficult to do with paints and canvas.
By: ytaba36 on June 25, 2014
at 12:46 am
It was amazing to watch the teams of people put the images together.
By: Debra Kolkka on June 25, 2014
at 4:45 am
Thank you for sharing Debra. What a spectacular event you captured.
By: jennyandstephenmilan on June 25, 2014
at 5:55 am
Infiorata is amazing. I now want to look for other towns that do it.
By: Debra Kolkka on June 25, 2014
at 8:12 am
Deb, these last two posts are absolutely amazing! I’ve never seen anything like them! Thank you so much for sharing them with us!
By: Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial on June 25, 2014
at 6:28 am
I am so glad I went. It is amazing to watch the tapestries being put together.
By: Debra Kolkka on June 25, 2014
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Thank you for such wonderful photos, I have shared them with my daughters, we are all amazed at the amount of talent and hard work that goes into each picture, so beautiful x
By: janetknight57 on June 25, 2014
at 7:05 am
There is a lot of work that goes into these creations.
By: Debra Kolkka on June 25, 2014
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Those carpets are amazing! So they stay outdoors? 😮
By: Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella on June 25, 2014
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The flowers are placed directly onto the street, so there is no way to move them.
By: Debra Kolkka on June 25, 2014
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WOW! This is great, fascinated me all of them. Thank you dear Debra, love, nia
By: niasunset on June 25, 2014
at 8:02 am
Infiorata is amazing, I’m so glad I went.
By: Debra Kolkka on June 25, 2014
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I’m glad I got to peek at the finished creations. I just want to lie down on those flower carpets. They look so inviting. What a shame that they can’t stay intact longer.
By: Jackie Cangro on June 25, 2014
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The flower carpets were very beautiful. It would be fun to lie down on one…or two.
By: Debra Kolkka on June 26, 2014
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Beautiful shots Debra…. We visited the Infiorate at Spello last year and like you were there bright and early to enjoy before the crowds! An unbelievable spectacle & feel very fortunate to have experienced it!
By: Pauline on June 25, 2014
at 11:00 pm
I remember you telling me about it…and you are the reason I went.
By: Debra Kolkka on June 26, 2014
at 11:52 am
Absolulety fabulous Deb.
By: Jim & Kerry on June 26, 2014
at 3:17 am
It was all stunning, and fun to watch them grow.
By: Debra Kolkka on June 26, 2014
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Good word! Those are extremely awe-some!!! Something I would be very happy to witness. I love the clock in particular. But everything is just whoa-creative. Your captures are just great as always, Deb.
By: rommel on June 26, 2014
at 4:27 am
Perhaps you will visit Spello one day and see it yourself.
By: Debra Kolkka on June 26, 2014
at 11:53 am
STUNNING. How fabulous that there are so many people who put in the hard work to create such an amazing site.
By: Lyn on June 26, 2014
at 5:28 am
It was great to see people of all ages working together.
By: Debra Kolkka on June 26, 2014
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OMG, they are STUNNING! Thanks for sharing your photos, Debra!
Hugs from Ecuador,
Kathy
By: Kathryn McCullough on June 26, 2014
at 12:25 pm
Your two posts about Spello and the flower carpets are just amazing. So much talent goes into making something that is beautiful but only lasts for a few hours. I’m grateful that you shared this event with us.
By: Karen on June 26, 2014
at 1:30 pm
Outstanding!! Have never seen anything quite on this scale before! Thank you Debra.
By: Madhu on June 29, 2014
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The amount of work that goes into this is amazing.
By: Debra Kolkka on July 2, 2014
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[…] Spello holds an amazing festival in June where the streets are filled with art created from flower petals only to have them trampled the next day. […]
By: Where to go in 2020? | Bagni di Lucca and Beyond on January 30, 2020
at 8:54 pm