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The transport of Machine of Santa Rosa
Gloria is carried by facchini - Photo by Sergio Galeotti, all rights reserved
The transport of the Macchina di Santa Rosa is an important part of the history and culture of thè city of Viterbo. In 2013, it received the prestigious UNESCO recognition becoming intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
The Macchina di Santa Rosa is an enlightened tower, with a height of 30 metres and a weight of about 5 tons. Every year, on September 3rd, it is carried on shoulders by over 100 men, called ‘facchini’, across the narrow and dark streets of the old town centre.
“GLORIA” is the new design of Santa Rosa “tower” for the years 2015 to 2019 that won the competition published by the municipal district of Viterbo. It sums up all the stilish aspects and deep meanings of the models that preceeded it. “GLORIA”, expression of its time and reflection of the past, finds its essential inspiration from the exposition of Santa Rosa’s heart, preserved in the golden reliquary, donated to the monastery of Poor Clares by Pope Pius XI, that is carried in procession the day before the transport.
The decorations of the reliquary inspired “GLORIA” creative process. Each one of the 12 angels of “GLORIA” hands out a parchment to the sky representing their intercession for the messages from devotees to the saint, that are preserved into the Macchina. The 6 human figures represent the centuries-old devotion of the city for Santa Rosa. For the first time, the men who carry the Macchina are placed on the major axis in order to prove their effiart during the transport.
Creator and Designer Arch. Raffaele Ascenzi
Manufacturer Vincenzo Fiorillo
3d Designer Luigi Vetrani
Facilities Ing. Ivan Grazini
Electrical system Ing. Marco Cornacchia
Video about Macchina di Santa Rosa
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