An Italian Holiday: La macchina di Santa Rosa
If you are in Italy on 3th September, or you want to attend a very unusual religious festivity, you have to go to Viterbo (Lazio) to take part of “la macchina di Santa Rosa”. In fact every 3th September the Viterbesi (inhabitans of Viterbo) dedicate to the patron Santa Rosa an exciting, holiday unique in the world.
La macchina di Santa Rosa consists in a tower illuminated by torches and electric lamps with at the top the statue of Santa Rosa. It is about 30 meters high and 5 tonnes heavy. In the evening of 3th September 100 men (called “facchini”) carry on their shoulders this tower through narrow streets of the old town.
The origins of “la macchina di Santa Rosa” go back to 1258, when the body of Santa Rosa was transferred from the Church S. Maria in Poggio to a Sanctuary that was dedicated to Her. In the years the dimentions of the baldachin that sustains the image of the Santa have become increasingly huge.
Also I recommend you, don’t miss this exciting and fascinating appointment and
Buon divertimento!
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