Corpus Domini Flower Festival

The Corpus Domini Flower Festival in Pescasseroli

In the town of Pescasseroli, in the province of L'Aquila and in the heart of the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park, the solemnity of Corpus Domini has been the occasion for one of the most well-known and beloved flower festivals in Abruzzo for decades. For one day, the cobblestone streets and squares of the village are covered with floral carpets made from petals, aromatic herbs, boxwood leaves, coffee grounds, and colored wood shavings, forming sacred images and decorative motifs along the procession route.

A tradition born in 1990

The first edition of the Infiorata dates back to 1990, when Father Vincenzo De Mario had the idea to launch this event to gather the faithful around an activity that is both creative and spiritual. Since then, the tradition has strengthened year after year, involving entire generations of villagers in the nocturnal preparation of the displays. In the local dialect, the small altars that dot the route are called "spuneche": they are the devotional heart of the festival, where the procession stops for prayer.

How the carpets are created

Creating the carpets is a collective effort that engages the entire community. Flowers and aromatic herbs are selected and cut, while bark and shavings are colored in the senior center's garden and left to dry in the sun before being used. The designs, often evocative and striking, combine sacred images with references to the Park's nature. The carpets wind their way starting from the Church of Saints Peter and Paul and along the impressive Viale Gabriele D'Annunzio, the village's main artery.

The procession

The highlight is the Corpus Domini procession, which crosses the freshly completed carpets immediately after Holy Mass. The works remain visible from the morning, while the religious pageant travels through the flower-lined streets accompanied by the faithful and numerous visitors arriving from nearby towns and further afield.

Why visit

• One of the most famous flower festivals in Abruzzo, in the charming mountain village of Pescasseroli.
• Unique setting in the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park.
• An authentic communal ritual that weaves together faith, folk art, and Marsican tradition.
• Free admission and the opportunity to admire the carpets throughout the day.