Macchina di Santa Rosa

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"Ali di Luce" during the transport on September 3, 2007.

The Macchina di Santa Rosa is a thirty meter high tower that is built in Viterbo in honor of the city saint Santa Rosa every year in July and August.

overview

On the evening of September 3rd each year, the Macchina is lifted up by a hundred men, the so-called " Facchini di Santa Rosa " (Italian: the porters of Santa Rosa) and along a distance of a little more than a kilometer through the sometimes very narrow streets and Places of the medieval city center worn.

The transport of the macchina goes back symbolically to the transfer of the body of Saint Rosa . In 1258, on the instructions of Pope Alexander IV, it was moved from the then church of Santa Maria in Poggio to the church of Santa Maria delle Rose (today the pilgrimage chapel of Santa Rosa).

construction

A design competition for a new Macchina is held every five years. The competition specifications provide for a 28 m high tower, measured from the shoulders of the porters. The construction may weigh a maximum of five tons and be a maximum of 4.3 m wide. This takes into account some narrow places in the historic center where eaves and balconies could touch the macchina.

The appearance of the macchina has changed over the course of history. The altars used in the 18th century developed more and more into church tower-like constructions and in the second half of the 20th century into the 30 m high sculptural towers.

While paper mache was originally mainly used, fire-resistant lightweight materials such as steel, aluminum and fiberglass are used today.

Since 2009 the new Macchina di Santa Rosa has been called “ Fiore del Cielo ”. This was designed by the architects Architecture and Vision (Arturo Vittori and Andreas Vogler). The design is characterized by upwardly winding golden helix surfaces. Compared to the earlier Macchina, several innovations have been introduced, such as the golden color scheme and the more than 1200 computer-controlled LED lights that illuminate handmade textile roses. A special scenography was developed that also provides for a rain of rose petals on the audience.

transport

Fiore del Cielo on September 5, 2009

The transport of the Macchina di Santa Rosa is the main annual event in the city of Viterbo . As early as the afternoon, the streets of the historic center are filled with citizens and visitors waiting for the tower to be transported in the dark of night.

The transport begins at the Porta Romana, where the macchina stands assembled in a scaffolding covered with cloths. Around 8 p.m., around 800 candles are lit on the macchina. The city's street lights are turned off completely. At around 9 p.m., the porters (“i Facchini”) lift the 5-ton macchina and, cheered by the audience, walk the first stretch of the macchina.

There are five stops during transport. During these breaks, the macchina is placed on special racks. Breakpoints are:

  • Piazza Fontana Grande
  • Piazza del Plebiscito (in front of the town hall)
  • Piazza delle Erbe
  • Corso Italia (in front of the Santa Maria del Suffragio church)
  • Piazza del Teatro.

The last stretch up to the Santa Rosa church has a considerable gradient. For this purpose, the macchina is pulled up with the help of ropes and additional people and parked in front of the pilgrimage church, where it remains on display for several days. The transport is broadcast direct by some Italian TV channels.

particularities

  • 1984: On the occasion of the visit of Pope John Paul II , a special transport was organized on May 27th.
  • 2009: On September 6th, Pope Benedict XVI. see the new Macchina of Santa Rosa Fiore del Cielo in front of the pilgrimage chapel during his visit to Viterbo.

Web links

Commons : Macchina di Santa Rosa  - Collection of images, videos and audio files