Tag Archives: Italy Culture

Genzano di Roma Flower Italy Festival Held in June 2014

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A Famous Festival Full of Flowers

Italy FestivalItaly is famous for holding “infiorata”, which means “decorated with flowers.” Infiorata is a traditional flower festival that is observed all across Italy during May and June. During infiorata, the streets are carpeted with stunning works of art created by flower petals. Flower carpets are everywhere; in abbeys, buildings, stores, homes and cover the city in true beauty. Infiorata varies from place to place and in the level of complexity around the country. In certain places, the infiorata is a simple flower-petal design in front of the church. In a more elaborate infiorata, many different tapestries are created, each with a different picture, but usually inspired by a certain theme.

Infiorata is one of the most important events related to Italian culture. In order to create the flower design, the design is first sketched with chalk on the pavement. Then usually soil is used to outline the design and after that it’s filled in with thousands of petals and seeds, quite like the making of mosaics or tapestries. The whole beautiful task takes two or three days to complete. Once the flower design is complete, usually a religious procession takes place on the flower carpets.

Though the infiorata takes place in many Italian towns, it is particularly stunning in the town of Genzano di Roma where the entire street of Via Italo Belardi is covered with allegorical carpets of flowers and a masked parade walks the street wearing medieval and traditional clothes crafted by local women.

For more than 2 centuries (from 1778), the display has covered the streets of Genzano on Sunday and Monday following the Corpus Christus feast. The theme for infiorata is decided well in advance and each year local artists must conform to the previously agreed upon theme, such as The Colours of Michelangelo, or The Designs of Bernini. During spring, it has recently become a tradition to have a “mini Infiorata” made by the children from the local schools. Here are the flowers like you’ve never seen before! This amazing Italy festival is so captivating and alluring you can’t afford to miss it.

Holiday Goodness at the Italy Festival

Book your holiday on our Po river cruise and behold the so picturesque, so attractive and so artistic Genzano di Roma Flower Italy Festival!

A Visit to the Italian City of Adria from the 30 Passenger Ave Maria Barge

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The Italian City of Adria

JUNE 6Positioned between the mouths of the rivers Adige and Po, Adria is a town and commune in the province of Rovigo in the Veneto region of Northern Italy. It is believed that Adria gave the Adriatic Sea its name during earlier times when the two were connected through a number of waterways.

The ancient Adria was divided into two parts by the Canal Bianco, which was used for irrigation of the fields. The Etruscan city of Atria underlies the modern city, 3-4 meters below the current level. Situated 20 kilometres east of Rovigo, the small town was once positioned directly by the sea!

Adria has a rich history associated with it. The city was originally a small village named Hatria. Around 2500 years ago, Etruscan and Greek merchants inhabited this small farming village and turned it into the most important trading port in the whole region. The influence of the ancient port is visible even today and is evident in the name of a whole section of the sea – the Adriatic. The city slowly lost its connection to the sea because of the increasing deposits of the Po and thus, lost its importance in the region. The city of Adria is now located some 25 kilometers from the sea and can only feel nostalgic of it’s great history, looking back on a bygone past.

History of The Italian City of Adria

The city of Adria is full of great religious sites, architecture, and culture. The most spectacular of Italian churches are located here, such as the Church of Santa Maria and the Adria Cathedral. The Church of Santa Maria Assunta della Tomba (formerly the cathedral) dates back to medieval period but was rebuilt in 1718. It houses an octagonal baptismal font from the 7th or 8th century, with the carved name of the 3rd bishop of Adria, Bono. Other works of art include several 15th and 16th centuries’ paintings and in the chapel a beautiful terracotta relief depicting a Dormitio Virginis, attributed to Michele da Firenze. Adria Cathedral is the New Cathedral (Cattedrale Nuova dei Santi Petro i Paulo), that has been dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul. Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Adria is another must-see attraction for tourists visiting the region.

While traveling on a Casual Bike and Barge Cruise on the Ave Marie or Vita Pugna in Italy, you will make a stop at the Italian city of Adria where you get a chance to feel and imbibe the unforgettable Italian history and culture!