What you'll find in this episode:

  • The Macchina di Santa Rosa up close: the roughly 30-metre luminous tower, its details and symbolism.
  • The history of the festival: where the tradition comes from and why the Trasporto is a UNESCO heritage site.
  • The facchini: who they are, how they prepare and what it means to carry the Macchina on their shoulders.
  • The atmosphere of the evening: the square, the crowd, the anticipation and the lights switching on.
  • Viterbo to discover: the largest medieval centre in Europe
  • Practical tips: how to make the most of the Notte di Santa Rosa (Night of Santa Rosa)

Santa Rosa in Viterbo: the Macchina that lights up the night

Every 3 September, Viterbo experiences one of the most intense evenings in the whole of Lazio: the Trasporto della Macchina di Santa Rosa (Transport of the Machine of Santa Rosa). In this episode of Una Gita Fuoriporta, we take you into the heart of the celebration, among the crowds filling the squares, the lights coming on above the historic centre, and the emotion of a tradition the city has kept alive for centuries.

A luminous tower carried on shoulders

The absolute star of the show is the Macchina: an illuminated tower roughly 30 metres tall, which changes name and design every year but keeps the same spirit. In the episode we look at it up close, from the base to the top, discovering the details, decorations and symbolism that make it a truly unique work. At night, lit up, it becomes a genuine sculpture of light towering over the buildings of the old town.

The facchini of Santa Rosa

Behind every step of the Macchina are the facchini, the men who carry it on their shoulders through the streets of Viterbo. In the video we explore what it means to be part of this team: the preparation, the physical effort, the responsibility and the pride of bearing such a weight in front of an entire city. It's the most human side of the festival, the part that stays with you.

History and tradition, a UNESCO heritage site

The Trasporto di Santa Rosa springs from devotion to the young saint of Viterbo and is now recognised by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage, alongside other great Italian shoulder-borne machines. In the episode we trace the origins of the tradition and explain why this festival is far more than a spectacle: it's the very identity of a community.

Viterbo to discover

Viterbo isn't just about Santa Rosa. Among its medieval streets, squares and historic buildings, there's plenty to see in the days following the festival too. In the video we show you [LOCATIONS FEATURED IN THE EPISODE] and give you a few tips for planning your trip: where to eat, where to stop and how to get there from Rome.

Watch the full episode

Press play and experience the Night of Santa Rosa as if you were there. If you enjoy our way of telling the story of Italy's regions, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow Una Gita Fuoriporta on Sky, Digital Terrestrial, on demand and on social media: every episode is a new itinerary to discover.

Watch also Viterbo, City of Thermal Springs: www.unagitafuoriporta.it/viterbo-terme-quartieri-medievali-san-pellegrino-fiore-s8-ep2/