The Museo del Sodalizio Facchini di Santa Rosa is located in the Piazza San Pellegrino in the historic center of Viterbo and is entirely dedicated to the most important tradition of the city, namely the Transport of the Chariot of Santa Rosa, a tradition that has taken place since the 17th century.
Museo del Sodalizio Facchini di Santa Rosa Viterbo
Address, Opening Hours and Ticket Price
The address of the Sodalizio dei Facchini di Santa Rosa is Via S. Pellegrino, 60 – 01100 Viterbo (Tel. + 39 0761345157). Opening hours: From October 1 to March 31 only on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm. From April 1 to September 30, Wednesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 13:00 and 16:00 to 19:00. Admission is free. (Note that times may be subject to change.)
History and description
The Macchina di Santa Rosa is a nearly 30-meter-high structure resembling a bell-tower that weighs more than 5,000 kilograms and is carried through the narrow streets of Viterbo every September 3rd by about 100 men called facchini.
The museum displays a number of scale models of the various Macchine, the oldest dating back to 1924. Also on display are recordings of the parades from 1964 to the present and photographs of the carriers and of the machine itself dating back to 1919.