So, as promised, here I am writing about the infamous annual Santa Rosa festival in Viterbo. I will start with a little bit of background history. Santa Rosa (Saint Rose) became a Saint circa the 17^th century in Viterbo. She was born with a condition that is now called Pectus excavatum. It is a deformity where, either you are born or develop during puberty, several abnormal ribs and sternum. Normally back when Santa Rosa was alive it was known that children born with this condition only lived two or three years.

Part of Santa Rosa’s sainthood came from the fact that she lived until she was 18 years old with this condition, therefore named a saint. Also during her time, it was illegal and not accepted to associate with or give to the poor but Santa Rosa secretly helped the poor by feeding them, giving them clothing etc.

One day as she was carrying a sack of bread to the poor, the police stopped her to question her about the bread she had and to eventually arrest her for her illegal association with the poor.

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