SANTA ROSA RETURNS “IN GLORIA”
Back after our August break and what better way to launch the new autumnal season than the Feast of Santa Rosa in Viterbo (Lazio) – one of the most sensational shoulder-bourne religious processions in Italy, in which a hundred devout bearers carry the 5 ton “macchina” between churches in the town centre.
Suspended for the past two years due to the Covid epidemic, the spectacular event is programmed for today 3rd September 2022. This year's macchina tower is called “Gloria” and has been designed by local architect Raffaele Ascenzi. It is a colossal 30 metre high construction in metal and fibreglass, covered in elaborate carvings and illuminated by hundreds of candles and lights.
The procession begins this evening and follows a route from the Sanctuary of Santa Rosa, the town's patron saint, touching on seven churches in the town's historic centre. The feat of negotiating this weighty and cumbersome structure through narrow streets lined with thousand of spectators is considered so difficult and potentially dangerous that the facchini (bearers) are given a special blessing by the bishop before they start off on the marathon journey.
Several films of previous events are available on YouTube.
Info: www.comune.viterbo.it
Text & photos by M. Stenhouse