The oldest Infiorata in Italy has been held for about 300 years and colours the village of Gerano with floral carpets, colourful and fragrant works of art created by the entire community. Since 1740, on the Sunday following 25 April, St Mark’s Day, the infiorata in honour of Our Lady of the Heart takes place in this village in the Giovenzano valley. The Infiorata di Gerano is among the candidates for UNESCO Intangible Heritage.
Madonna of the Heart by Sebastiano Conca
Why does the Infiorata di Gerano celebrate Our Lady of the Heart? The painting of Our Lady of the Heart is an 18th-century work by Sebastiano Conca kept in the Church of Santa Maria Assunta in Gerano. It is said to have been brought to Gerano by two Jesuits in 1729. The people of Gerano began to venerate it and begged the two religious men not to take it away any more. The Jesuits did not want to hear about it, but every time they tried to leave the village with the painting, it started to rain. The devotees interpreted this as a sign that Our Lady wanted to stay in Gerano. And so it was.
Infiorata di Gerano
Why is the Infiorata di Gerano among the candidates for Unesco’s Intangible Heritage? The Infiorata di Gerano has never been suspended, not even during periods of war or other dramatic events. Moreover, the Master Florists draw the motifs to be depicted directly with chalk on the ground and use only flower petals and leaves, without coloured earth. Awaiting the official recognition of the ‘Infiorate, Tappeti e Mosaici di Arte Effimera’ List as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, the Infiorata di Gerano is among the five heritage sites in Lazio on the ‘Tentative List’, the ‘waiting list’ to become part of the World Heritage List.
Infiorata di Gerano 2015, Dante Alighieri
What are the highlights of the Infiorata di Gerano? The paintings are thematic and dedicated to the celebration of events, topics and personalities that have made history and have national and international resonance.
On the eve of the event, the protagonists meet in the cellar to create the floral paintings. They experiment with new techniques to create shades and colour combinations with the chosen flowers. On Saturday, there is the “Calata” of the image of the Madonna del Cuore, removed from the wall of the church of Santa Maria Assunta. Sunday’s procession is evocative, with the painting of Our Lady of the Heart, supported by members of the Confraternity, passing over the bed of flowers. Three Popes have walked on the flower bed made by the flower arrangers in the past: Pius VI, Pius IX and St John Paul II. Once the procession is over, the children dismantle the floral carpet with the traditional ‘Sciarrata’. To close, the sparkling firework display.
Museo dell’Infiorata – foto www.infioratadigerano.org
In Gerano there is the Museo dell’Infiorata, inaugurated on 26 April 2003 on the occasion of the feast of Our Lady of the Heart. It consists of several exhibition spaces.
Museo dell’Infiorata – foto www.infioratadigerano.org
The central hall preserves historical documents and the ancient tools of the Flower Masters, and makes it possible to take a virtual journey through the Infiorata in the past, learning about the species of flowers collected and used, and the different techniques used in their creation. Another room houses the photographic heritage with the Infiorata of previous editions. It highlights the historical continuity even during the war period. A specific section of photographs shows the infiorate created in other Italian cities, abroad or during important events.