A journey into the places of southern Italy where the past has never quite become past and gestures handed down for centuries come to life before local communities, year after year. Some Italian traditions have roots in pre-Christian rites; others have become interlaced with religious devotion.
All of them, however, tell the story of a Italy far removed from the postcard version sold to tourists. From the raucous Festa della 'Ndenna in Castelsaraceno to the dramatic rites of the Vattienti, these time-honored Italian rituals safeguard a matrix of symbols, beliefs, and stories that continue to astonish.
