Across Italy, a supposed miracle that happened over 600 years ago is today celebrated by communities coming together to lay out carpets of flowers to their own designs.
In 1263 in Bolsena, in the region of Lazio, consecrated bread allegedly bled onto the cloth on which it was standing. This was seen as a miracle and confirmed the Roman Catholic belief that the bread and wine served during Mass become the body and blood of Christ (rather than representing the body and blood) at the moment of consecration. It was said that the miracle occurred in the hands of a priest who had doubts about this process (transubstantiation).
Today, the cloth with the spots of blood (which apparently show a similarity with the Renaissance image of Christ) is kept in Orvieto Cathedral, not far from Bolsena.
The village of Brugnato, a bus ride from La Spezia, and recognised as one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, takes part in this celebration and when we arrived mid-morning, design outlines were taking shape along the roads and alleyways.
By mid-afternoon most designs were far from completion, but sadly we had to leave to catch one of the infrequent buses home. This evening would really be the optimum time to be in Brugnato, when all the work is done and there is a procession in the village.
This is the progress made before we left.
Three of the best flower festivals in Italy are reportedly in Spello in Umbria, Noto in Sicily and Genzano in Lazio and would be worth checking out if you’re staying close by in May or June one year.
Tortoise Travel 