Home / Series / DW Documentaries / Aired Order / Season 2026 / Episode 131

Breaking taboos in Italy - Opening an exclusively male ritual to women

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 3 September, 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. At the heart of this development is 13-year-old Stella. She was the first girl to be accepted into the Mini-Macchina club - the first step for children hoping to one day become fully-fledged Macchina bearers. Now she's preparing for her most important challenge.

English
  • Originally Aired August 30, 2026
  • Runtime 28 minutes
  • Network Deutsche Welle TV
  • Created October 10, 2026 by
    andresflower
  • Modified October 10, 2026 by
    andresflower