Corpus Domini and Infiorata of Collegiove

Corpus Domini in the village of Collegiove

Every year, on the Sunday dedicated to Corpus Domini, the small town of Collegiove — with just under two hundred inhabitants perched at nearly one thousand meters in the Sabina region, in the province of Rieti — transforms into a tapestry of colors. The Infiorata of Collegiove is one of those folk traditions that keep the identity of the Lazio Apennine villages alive: for one day, the streets of the historic center are dressed in petals, earth, sawdust, coffee beans, and seeds, patiently arranged to compose sacred designs and floral geometries.

An ephemeral art born from weeks of work

Behind the wonder of a few hours lies long community labor. In the weeks leading up to the festival, groups of 'infioratori' — often a dozen people for each tableau — meet to define the sketches, scale the designs, and collect flowers and natural materials. It is a collective ritual that passes down artisanal knowledge and strengthens the village's bonds, from the elderly to the children, all involved in preparing the carpets that will welcome the passing of the procession.

Faith, community, and conviviality

The day revolves around the religious dimension: the morning Holy Mass, the solemn Corpus Domini procession advancing over the floral tableaux, and the Eucharistic blessing. But the festival is also a social gathering: at the end of the celebrations, the Pro Loco Collegiove Sabino organizes the traditional community lunch, a moment of conviviality that draws friends, emigrated relatives, and visitors curious to discover this authentic corner of Lazio to the village.

A village between two lakes and protected nature

Experiencing the Infiorata is also an opportunity to discover Collegiove, a quiet village overlooking the landscape of the Salto and Turano artificial basins and included in the Monti Cervia and Navegna Nature Reserve. Strolls through the historic center, the courtesy of the inhabitants, and the memory of rural life preserved in the village make this festival much more than a religious event: an invitation to slow down and let yourself be welcomed by a community that, with its flower carpets, stages its own history every year.