Corpus Domini Flower Carpets

A tradition of flowers and faith in the Lucca Plain

In the heart of Tuscany, just outside Lucca, the Municipality of Capannori (Province of Lucca) preserves one of the most evocative religious and folk traditions in the region: The Corpus Domini Flower Carpets. Every year, on the Sunday dedicated to Corpus Domini, the town's hamlets dress in color thanks to the so-called tappeti fioriti (flowered carpets), long compositions made entirely of petals, seeds, and natural essences, laid out along the procession routes.

What are the "fiorite"?

These flower carpets are true ephemeral masterpieces. Communities work for days, often late into the night, gathering and selecting flowers, separating petals by color, and drawing geometric patterns, sacred images, and symbols related to the feast on the ground. The result is a fragrant, colorful carpet that delights the eyes and nose, living for only a single day: in the afternoon, the procession of the Blessed Sacrament crosses the carpets, trampling them. This very act holds the deepest meaning of the tradition: beauty is created and then given away, with no desire to preserve it.

Participating hamlets

The festival involves several communities in the Capannori area, each with its own display. Traditionally participating locations include:

• Camigliano — along the avenue of Villa Torrigiani
• Capannori (main town) — on the church square
• Colle di Compito — at the Sanctuary of Santa Maria Assunta
• Lammari — on the church square
• Marlia — in the park of the Don A. Gori nursing home
• Ruota and San Gennaro — in their respective hillside villages

A history spanning generations

The roots of the flower carpets in Capannori date back to the last century, with records going back to the 1950s. In more recent times, the tradition has been revived with renewed enthusiasm by several communities, including that of the church of Santi Quirico e Giulitta, which brought its flower carpets back to life about twenty years ago. This experience was also the subject of a photographic volume, edited by Mariano Manfredini, which traces the origins and development of the tradition on the occasion of the bicentenary of the Municipality of Capannori.

Why it's worth visiting

Visiting the Capannori flower carpets means discovering an authentic side of Tuscany, far from the major tourist circuits. It is an opportunity to stroll through the villages of the Lucca Plain, admire the floral displays in the morning hours while they are still intact, and experience the intimate atmosphere of the afternoon processions. An event that combines art, devotion, and a sense of community, drawing visitors and photographers from all over the Lucca area every year.