The Festival of Santa Rosa

Viterbo's musicians celebrating Santa Rosa on the 2nd

Hello everybody.  It’s been quite busy here in Viterbo, but not busy enough to post some updates and photos! 

So, last Monday was the Festa di Santa Rosa, or the Festival of Saint Rose.  It’s a big deal in Viterbo because Saint Rose is actually the patron Saint of the city, and dubbed protectorate.

Saint Rose preached in the streets of Viterbo when people were beginning to lose faith in their Catholic religion during the Papal disputes in the first half of the 13^th century.  Though many scorned her, others listened.  Through her preaching, many people’s faith was restored and they once again returned under the guiding wing of the Church. 

The Macchina is unveiled

Because her preaching did not support the Roman Empire, she was expelled from Viterbo until two years later when papal authority was restored.  She then was welcomed back with open arms and though she tried to join a monastery in Viterbo, she was rejected.  Saint Rose died shortly after at the estimated age of only 19.  Though she lived a short life, her influence was not forgotten, and her spirit lives on in the city, especially in second week of September.  Her feast day is on the 3^rd, so the entire city comes alive with festivities and parades under her name all celebrating her influence, and the difference she made in a city that almost lost hope in not only their faith, but the prosperity of their home of Viterbo. 

Though the festivities run all week, the main event isn’t until the 3^rd of September, when at 9 pm, 100 men called Facchini, carry a 30-meter tall, 10,000 pound Macchina through the streets of Viterbo.  The magnificent tower is brightly lit up with candles and at the top is a statue of Saint Rose herself.  The procession of the tower through the city is so revered, that many natives of the area are known to reserve a spot on street corners as early as 6 am the day of the festival.

As the tower approached the street from where I watched, everybody clapped and sigh in awe of the magnificent creation and what it represented.  All I could see was the great candle-lit Macchina against the dark night sky, as the entire city had shut out their lights so the great tower could be seen.  It was almost frightening to know that only 100 men held it up, but luckily I knew the tradition held strong without a history of any unfortunate incidents. 

The magnificent 30 meter tall Macchina

Now that the festival is all over, the entire city has calmed and quieted.  It was an adjustment at first, because it was exciting to arrive at the height of the festivities, but I can’t complain, as I will probably be appreciating the quiet moments when it comes time to study and do homework.  Though oddly enough, an apartment nearby decided to play an American Christmas movie at midnight right outside my window yesterday.  It was nice to hear sounds of home, but it felt slightly awkward given the context of time.

Well, keep posted because soon I will share some photos and writing about my most recent trip to Bolsena, one of the most beautiful cities I have yet visited.