since 1875 theflower festival has taken place in "via italo belardi" , formerly "via livia" , the street that connects the main square of the town ( "piazza iv novembre" ) to the church of saint maria of cima. the street is completely covered by a floral carpet covering an area of 1890 m², generally composed of thirteen "sections", in addition to the decoration of the staircase leading to the church of saint maria of cima which is located at the top of the hill. each "framework" is generally 7m x 114.   the subjects are generally reproductions of known artworks or geometric motifs and are religious or civil in nature, which are chosen by a special commission that presides over the display. to compose the thirteen paintings of the flower festival of genzano it takes about 500 quintals of flower petals or vegetable essences. the sides are protected by columns made with mortelle and are always connected by festoons of mortella.