SPELLO’S INFIORATES

 

 

 

SPELLO‘S INFIORATES

 

Spello’s infiorates are a manifestation that takes place annually in the Umbrian town during the Corpus Christi’s feast.
They were born for the first time in 1831 with the visit of Bishop Ignazio Cadolini.
For the occasion, gonfalonier Francesco Nicoletti asked all the inhabitants of the houses located on the main street to keep the streets clean, free of any rubble and embellished with flowers or vegetables …
Since the 1960s, floral carpets were made in geometric patterns and symbols linked to Corpus Domini.
Over time, the technique has become increasingly refined and of a high standard, and this has allowed the emergence of distinct groups of infrared artists that made larger and rarer compositions.
The high level of commitment of the infiorators, all the work involved and the stimulus itself to make the event more and more beautiful, has prompted a race to elect the most beautiful carpet of each edition.
The prize was and is the bronze statue of the poet Sesto Propertius, a Latin poet, whom the winning group retains until the next edition.
The fame of the Infiorate di Spello is also known outside the region and the nation so much that infiorators have been called upon to create emphatic for eminent characters (Sandro Pertini, John Paul II, Oscar Luigi Scalfaro) and have had the honor to bring their art into Highly symbolic places such as Bethlehem and Lourdes.
In 1989 the Italian Post Office devoted a 400 lire stamp to Spello’s inflorate.
Since 2002 Spello’s inflighters have formed the association “Spello’s inflorates”, composed of 1,000 members, to organize the event and the competition and to promote the event.
Among its bodies, the general assembly of members, the assembly of infiorating masters (the group of representatives of the 40 groups that realize the infiorate) and a board of directors consisting of 11 members: 7 infiorators elected by infioratori masters, a representative of the Mayor of Spello, 1 representative of the Inclusive Institute of Spello, 1 representative of the Pro Loco – IAT and 1 representative of the Collegiate Insignia of S. Maria Maggiore and S. Lorenzo Martire.
The floral route is about 1.5 km and approximately 70 Infiorate between carpets (each 12 to 15 meters long, with a minimum surface of 15 sqm) and large paintings (from 25 to 90 sqm) are made on average.

The Infiorate di Spello follow some basic rules:

• The material comes from the vegetable world
•  The inflorates can not be less than 12 meters in length and must be at least 1 meter from the edge of the road to facilitate the passage to visitors.
• You can draw the drawing on white paper only in the figurative parts, as long as it is not colored.
• It is also forbidden to use paints, enamels and the like, glue and derivatives.
• Floods must end at 9 o’clock on Sunday.
• Only works of a religious nature are considered for the awards.
•  The Jury consists of 5/7 elements.

These are the main phases of the Infiorate:

1. Design phase, that is to say, takes into account the available road surface, in order to study the subject and the colors.
2. Pairing phase between the colors of the sketch and flowers available.
3. Stage of flower collection, which takes place even a few hundred kilometers and in various periods.
4. Phase of flowering, consisting of the separation of petals by type.
5. Stage preparation of white paper designs, something that not all groups necessarily perform.
6. Mold preparation stage that facilitates the work of composition.
7. Stage installation of tents or other covering systems that protect the works from rain and other adverse meteorological conditions as well as wind.
8. Phase, performed in the afternoon of the saturday, of the sizing, of the executed design (with glue).
9. Phase of design composition with petals and vegetables.
10. Phase of preservation and preservation of the inflorescence by spraying water with pumps and sprayers, so that the petals can remain adherent to the asphalt and do not absorb the heat of the sun. The thickness of the carpet is a very important element, for example, that with the sun the flowers would end with the retreat, causing the asphalt to appear.

To make carpets, the infrared decorators use fresh or dried flowers.
It is allowed to use leaves and berries but to a lesser extent than the floral component.
Use of any kind of wood or synthetic material is prohibited.
The floral species used in the inflorate are many: fiordaliso, pink, carnation, poppy, fennel, nettle, iris, broom, elder, daisy, tarasic, cardo, serputello, planzago, viscaria, sage, liner, calendula, anemone, cicirilli, magnolia , Chive, gaggia, fig, oak, walnut, cypress, pine, wild orchid.
The flower can be used whole or, as in most cases, petals, carefully separated from corolla, are fresh or dried, sometimes crushed but not dusty.
The leaves can also be used fresh or dried and crushed but not powdered.
Drying must occur naturally in the sun.
The “works” are the result of a complex and difficult work that takes days, weeks, and even months, of many people who distribute various tasks to groups.
On the eve of this day, since the early afternoon, the streets of Spello, interested in the procession, are closed to traffic and literally invaded by groups of citizens and visitors of all ages. Firstly, suitable lighting systems are set up, and tested protective systems (anti-rain and windproof structures) are installed to prevent unforeseen adverse weather conditions from disturbing or compromising the work of the Inflatables.
Preparation has different phases.
Among the most important and important preliminary stages of the event are the search and collection of flowers and then the finishing, selection and preservation of petals.
The flowers and herbs (of Mount Subasio and the Umbrian-marchigian Apennine) are harvested in every season, removed petals and preserved.
Older ladies take care of separating the petals according to the various colors and chopping scented herbs.

Then the road plaster is made directly with the plaster or drawn on paper and then glued to the ground allowing larger and more complex works to be realized.
During the afternoon and all night of the Saturday before the party, the infiorators work on the streets, bare to the ground, to draw, lay and dispose of millions and millions of petals capable of producing those magical masterpieces that know of ancient and modern art, loads Of emotional and cultural suggestions, linked to the themes of religious tradition and even of the most active news.
Work lasts all night and only at 9:00 am you can admire so rare beauty: a unique sight to see.
The subjects and decorations are always renewed, they are linked to the great tradition of Umbrian Painting, from the Renaissance to the 700, and sometimes the figurative discourse also opens to the greatest testimonies of modern art.
The various phases of INFIORATA involve actively about two thousand people and the masterpiece is also in this: in the example of participation and coordination between people who are not necessarily the same neighborhood or neighborhood and in the climate of civil confluence of different interests, From the religious one to that of social integration, from the tourist to the artistic one.

All ends with the passage of the Sacred Courts led by the Bishop who carries the monstrance and flower carpets can be trampled by anyone and the beautiful compositions dissolve in the air. Of these artistic works there is nothing left except in the memory of those who have briefly admired them and in the photos and color films that have captured them.

 

PROGRAM  SPELLO’S  INFIORATE 2017
With the extraordinary presence of the Municipality of SANREMO

•  JUNE 9 JUNE 2017

-Or 16:00 Sala dell’Edit, Town Hall
“Invitation” Ceremony of the special inflorating groups of the Academy of Blobs (Children of the Infant School) and Flower Students (Boys of the Secondary School). Delivery of official jerseys and partner cards.

•     SATURDAY 10 JUNE 2017

-Or 16:00, Via Giulia
Inauguration of Historical Photographic Exhibition
Curated by the Cinefoto Amateur Hispellum Club

-Or 21:00, Piazza Vallegloria
M’Ama Non M’Ama (the various groups of infiorators meet for the flowering of flowers in the public square)
With the live music of AusticaMente … with Feliciano Nalli and Sergio Fancelli, animation and games for children and … beer Etica to elder flowers

•     SUNDAY JUNE 11, 2017

-Or 10:00, Museum of the Infiorate – Republic Square
Opening of Museum of Infiorate
Inside exhibition of the works of hand embroidery competitions “Il Fiore Ricamato e …”

-Or 17:00, Museum of Infiorate
Award ceremony “The Embroidered Flower and …”
Featuring the small choir of AlaMIrè Music School

•     THURSDAY 15 JUNE 2017

-Or 18:30, Church S. Lorenzo Martire
Holy Mass of the Inflorescences

•     FRIDAY 16 JUNE 2017

-O 10: 30-12: 00, Museum of Infiorate
Lectio Magistralis
The boys from 1st degree secondary school of IA. G. Ferraris di Spello illustrate to tourists how to make an infamous, in Italian, English and French

-Or 20:00, Kennedy Square
Kick Off
Mounting of awnings for the realization of the inflorate, between music and beer tastingEtica to the elder flowers

-Or 20.00, Taverna degli Infioratori, Old Town
Menu with flowers
Info and reservations: Luca Piastrelli – 345 613 8137

•     SATURDAY 17 JUNE 2017

-Or 10:00, Public Gardens
Inauguration of the XI Florovivaismo exhibition “Spello in Fiore”

-O 10: 30-12: 00, Museum of Infiorate
Lectio Magistralis
The boys from 1st degree secondary school of IA. G. Ferraris di Spello illustrate to tourists how to make an infamous, in Italian, English and French

-O 12.00, Taverna degli Infioratori, Old Town
Menu with flowers
Info and reservations: Luca Piastrelli – 345 613 8137

-Or 16:00 Historical Center
“Designers at Work”
Beginning of works on the road pavement

-Or 20.00, Taverna degli Infioratori, Old Town
Menu with flowers
Info and reservations: Luca Piastrelli – 345 613 8137

-Or 21:00
InfiorArt
Night city guided tours of city art sites and floral carpets
Groups of up to 50 people
Info: spello@sistemamuseo.it; cultura@comune.spello.pg.it; tel. 0742301497 / 0742300034-39

– from 22:00 to 1:00
Extraordinary Night Opening of the Civic Picture Gallery of Spello

-On 21:00, Historic Center
NEXT THE NIGHT OF FLOWERS
… MUSIC, EXHIBITIONS, MUSEUMS, SHOPS AND BARS OPEN ALL NIGHT !!!
INFLUED BY TOURISTS
In the historic center will be set up an area entirely reserved for tourists and visitors who will want to try to make an inflorescence with the support of historical infioratori. This year will also be an infant for children. Author of the two sketches: the painter and art therapist Pietro RICCI.

•     SUNDAY 18 JUNE 2017

-Or 06:30
InfiorArt
Night city guided tours of city art sites and floral carpets
Groups of up to 50 people
Info: spello@sistemamuseo.it; cultura@comune.spello.pg.it; tel. 0742301497 / 0742300034-39

-Or 08:00
End of Floral Paintings and Carpets
Start of jury selections

-Or 8:00, Republic Square
Filatelic annulment “Infinity of Spello 2017” Special annulment in memory of prof. Eros Donnini “prince of the bulino”

-Or 10:00, Church of San Lorenzo Martire
Celebration of Holy Mass
Presided by S.E. Bishop Gualtiero Sigismondi, Bishop of the Diocese of Foligno

-Or 11:00, Exit from the Church of San Lorenzo Martire
Solemn procession of Corpus Domini

-Or 12:00, Taverna degli Infioratori, Old Town
Menu with flowers
Info and reservations: Luca Piastrelli – 345 613 8137

-Or 17:00
Waiting for the award. Live music with the group “Four B”

-Or 18.00,
Award for the 56th Infiorate Competition 2017
They present: Federica Menghinella and Marco Taccucci