Tourism, ENIT alongside Italian Unesco Heritage Sites. Thousands of devote tourists expected for the statue of Santa Rosa
PRESS RELEASE
TOURISM, ENIT ALONGSIDE ITALIAN UNESCO HERITAGE SITES.
THOUSANDS OF DEVOTE TOURISTS EXPECTED FOR THE STATUE OF SANTA ROSA.
ENIT continues to support the Italian regions and municipalities that represent Italy's distinctive framework of identity also recognised as a UNESCO site.
In September, a special partnership will be back with the Sodalizio dei Facchini di Santa Rosa to unite cultural and religious tourism through a unique event that presents a piece of Italy to promote to the world.
The statue is dedicated to the patron saint of the city of Viterbo, Saint Rose. It is the city’s main event of the year, capable of catalysing and focusing the attention of the entire city and attracting an ever-increasing number of tourists.
The Facchini, dressed in the traditional white uniform with a red sash around their waists (white symbolises the patron saint's purity of spirit, red the cardinals who translated her body in 1258), go to the City Hall where they are greeted by the city authorities, then visit seven churches in the city centre, and finally retreat to the Capuchin convent where the head Facchino gives them the final instructions on the journey.
The sun sets about an hour before the journey and the city plunges into the darkness of the evening (all public and private lights are strictly switched off), with the sudden glow of the gigantic bell tower piercing the darkness.
Around 8 p.m. the Facchini, preceded by a band ([[the Vejano band)]] that intones their hymn (entitled Quella sera del 3 – That evening of the 3rd), start out from the Sanctuary of Santa Rosa and walk back along the route of the Statue cheered on by the crowd, until they reach the Church of S. Sisto, near Porta Romana, next to the 'mossa'. Here the bishop gives them the so-called in articulo mortis blessing, which takes into account possible accidents and dangers.
‘ENIT never shies away from the comprehensive promotion of the regions, seeking to give impetus and vigour to traditional events that are an expression of the Italian way of life. Folklore allows us to spread the values and scope of the multifaceted tourism ecosystem of our Peninsula. Religious tourism is one of the segments at the centre of tourism promotion and is generating ever-increasing visitor numbers,’ states Sandro Pappalardo, ENIT Board Member.
‘This year the celebrations will be even more engaging with the participation of ENIT in the front line to support the national and international promotion of an event that is already known globally but that, thanks to a partnership with the National Tourism Board and its offices, can broaden its borders and awareness,’ comments Massimo Mecarini, President of Sodalizio Facchini di Santa Rosa.