Every year, the Italian town of Viterbo honors its patron saint, Santa Rosa, with a unique procession. A 30-metre-high sculpture has traditionally been carried through the town by more than 100 men. Now, women are challenging that exclusionary custom.
Viterbo is an Italian town with a centuries-old tradition. Every year, on September 3, more than a hundred men carry the huge Macchina di Santa Rosa sculpture — standing almost 30 meters tall — through the old town. For many, this ritual is a defining part of their identity. But Viterbo is changing, and a new generation is questioning why this tradition is reserved for men.
