Vatican drapes with Carpet of Flowers for Princes of Apostles | Shalom World News
The road leading to St. Peter's Square was transformed into a colourful carpet of floral art on Sunday as Rome marked the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, hailed as the princes of the Apostles. Known as the Infiorata Storica, the annual tradition saw artisans and volunteers from across Italy create large religious images using flower petals, colored sand, wood shavings and other natural materials. The intricate designs, completed overnight along Via della Conciliazione, welcomed thousands of pilgrims making their way to the Vatican for the feast. The tradition dates back to 1625, when Vatican florist Benedetto Drei first decorated the entrance to St. Peter's Basilica with floral mosaics. Though it faded for centuries, the Infiorata was revived in 2011 and has since become a highlight of the city's celebration of its patron saints.