By Lorenzo Olivieri
As a photographer, I am drawn to intense mixes of devotion, tradition, and explosive energy. I seek to explore how people across the world embodied their beliefs in unique ways to celebrate the special relationship with greater forces.
This year, I want to report one of Italy’s most vibrant and deeply rooted religious festivals: the Festa di Santa Rosalia in Palermo, Sicily. The festival honors the city’s patron saint, who is believed to have saved Palermo from the bubonic plague in the 17th century. Born from collective trauma – the devastating 1624 epidemic – the celebration is a powerful reminder of hope in devastating times. I’m here now, 401 years later, where once again the streets will be taken by thousands of pilgrims and devotees for the “Santuzza”, but also hordes of foodies chasing the festival’s iconic Sicilian delicacy: boiled snails drenched in garlic and parsley. Here, devotion to street food is its own religion.
I’d approach the task focusing on the raw human energy of the celebration. It will be my first time attending, but I heard of recounts of people falling in profound ecstasy and weeping when the saint is passing. This will include: Close-ups of hands gripping objects of cult, touching relics, or carrying the saint’s statue – showing physical connection to faith. Palermo will not be the background, but an active character itself. The narrative will include the rebirth of Palermo after the darkness of the plague: the procession ends in front of the sea, where fireworks are exploded, symbolizing the victory over death. I’ll be an active participant following the procession and I will try to shoot as close as possible to get unfiltered, authentic shots. I’d like the viewers to feel the intensity of walking in the procession, by shooting low and close and by a ground level, shooting downward at feet marching, flower petals, or discarded offerings and trash. And since street food is central to the celebration, close-up photos of food stalls and local foods will also be part of focus.
It will also provide some unique and key challenges, both personal and technical. Photos from such a large occasion can easily feel overwhelming, and for a beginner, it’s all too easy to lose focus or miss the right moment. I’ll approach this problem by scouting in advance the right places for vantage points (balconies, steps) to capture the most impactful shots. Some moments (tears, trance-like states) require respect: this must be evident both while Im covering the event and after, in editing.
Unlike other quieter Italian processions, this is an expression not only of faith but also of Sicilianess. Many Sicilians of the Diaspora come back specifically for this event. Its Baroque origins make it a powerful expression of a sacred theater, that leaves a cinematic impression on who assists, believers and unbelievers as well.
This article is part of the practical work carried out by students on the Master’s Degree in Travel Journalism at the School of Travel Journalism.