Corpus Domini Flower Festival

A carpet of flowers along the streets of Casoli

In the heart of Abruzzo, in the Municipality of Casoli, in the province of Chieti, the solemnity of Corpus Domini is celebrated every year with one of the most evocative expressions of faith and folk art in the region: the Infiorata. The streets and squares of the historic center are adorned with a long, multicolored floral carpet, over which the Blessed Sacrament is carried in procession. It is a tradition rooted in over eighty years of history: photographs kept in the albums of Casoli families, showing children dressed for the occasion and the faithful gathered in prayer, have documented the event since the 1940s.

Over eighty years of faith and community

The Casoli Flower Festival is arguably one of the most renowned and ancient, even in a region where this tradition is not widespread. It represents one of the most authentic expressions of the local identity: an intangible heritage built over time by entire generations of citizens. Volunteers, families, associations, and organized groups divide the sections of the route and work side by side, sometimes throughout the entire night, to complete the carpet in time for the procession. In 2025, the Casoli Flower Festival was included in the National Network of Infiorate, a recognition that confirms its cultural value.

The art of the floral carpet

The carpet is created entirely by hand using thousands of wildflower petals—broom, poppies, and daisies—to which roses, carnations, lilies, and other species are added. These natural materials are used to compose sacred images, religious symbols, and subjects, as well as simple geometric designs that wind through the town's streets. The route crosses the historic center, touching Largo and Via del Tempio, Via Roma, Via Michetti, Piazza del Popolo, Corso Vittorio Emanuele, Corso Umberto I, and ending at Piazza Santa Reparata.

The religious celebration

The spiritual heart of the event is the Holy Mass, celebrated in the church of Santa Maria Maggiore, followed by the solemn Corpus Domini procession along the floral carpet and the Eucharistic blessing at the church of Santa Reparata. The event is organized by the Parish of Santa Maria Maggiore together with the Punto Exe Photographic Club, which documents the event every year and promotes a photography contest to pass on its memory to new generations.

A staple in the Abruzzo calendar

For Casoli and the entire Aventino Valley area, the Corpus Domini Flower Festival represents a moment of strong popular participation, where faith, art, and a sense of community intertwine. For visitors, it is an opportunity to discover a village in the Abruzzo hinterland and witness an ancient rite that, amidst the scent of flowers and devotion, renews the community's bond with its roots every year.