Corpus Domini Infiorata of San Donato in Poggio

A carpet of flowers in the heart of Chianti

Every year, for the solemnity of Corpus Domini, the village of San Donato in Poggio, a hamlet in the municipality of Barberino Tavarnelle in the province of Florence, dresses up for the occasion with one of the most cherished traditions in the Chianti hills: the Infiorata. The ancient cobbled streets of the historic center are covered with large designs created using petals, fresh flowers, leaves, and colored woodchips, bringing to life a decorative path that winds through the entire medieval village.

A collective work by volunteers

The event is organized by the Gruppo Pietre Vive of the San Donato in Poggio parish, with the patronage of the Municipality of Barberino Tavarnelle. The strength of the Infiorata lies in the choral participation of the community: the village is literally colored by the passion of many volunteers, with a leading role played by the younger generations. Preparation begins the day before, with the gathering and processing of flowers and greenery in Piazza Malaspina, continuing on Sunday with the filling in of the designs traced on the pavement.

The Romanesque Pieve and the procession

The highlight is the solemn procession of the Blessed Sacrament, which sets off from the Pieve of San Donato—one of the oldest Romanesque buildings in Chianti, dating back to the 10th century—and travels through the center of the village, entirely adorned with flowers. The setting is one of the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy: a castrum of Roman origin still surrounded by medieval walls, featuring the famous Piazza Malaspina, Palazzo Malaspina, and the ancient octagonal well.

Between Florence and Siena

San Donato in Poggio is nestled in the Chianti Classico hills, halfway between Florence and Siena. The Infiorata is the perfect opportunity to discover this Tuscan jewel, combining the religious and artistic charm of the floral carpets with the beauty of a landscape of vineyards, olive groves, and cypress trees that is the very symbol of the region.

What to expect

• Decorative carpets of flowers and colored woodchips along all the village streets
• Open workshop for gathering and composition, open to everyone
• Convivial lunch in the garden of the Romanesque Pieve
• The solemn Corpus Domini procession along the flower-lined route
• A walk through one of the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy, among medieval walls and gates