This case study examines the “Network of Big Shoulder-borne Processional Structures” as a significant example of Italian Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), inscribed in 2013 on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, as an “example, model and source of inspiration”.
It includes four emblematic urban festivals – Gigli di Nola (Campania), Varia di Palmi (Calabria), Faradda dei Candelieri (Sassari, Sardinia), and the Macchina di Santa Rosa (Viterbo, Lazio) – all centered on the collective transportation of towering, elaborately designed structures through densely built historic city centres. The four festivals and their communities, united in a network, represented the first thematic or serial element in the history of the 2003 UNESCO Convention.
These events represent much more than religious devotion or festive ritual. They are deeply rooted in local history and social fabric, reflecting secular values of solidarity, identity, craftsmanship, and intergenerational knowledge transfer. Each celebration mobilizes hundreds of artisans, musicians, coordinators, and bearers who contribute to the yearly (or multi-year) preparation cycles, sustaining a vibrant cultural ecosystem. The structures – often exceeding 20 meters in height – are carried entirely on the shoulders of trained teams, following routes and rituals that have remained largely unchanged for centuries.
What makes this network particularly significant is the intricate interplay between intangible heritage and the built environment. These traditions are inseparable from their spatial context: narrow medieval streets, historical squares, and architectural landmarks are not mere backdrops but active components of the ritual performance. This embeddedness, however, renders the practice particularly vulnerable to disruption.
In recent years, the impacts of climate change (CC) have become increasingly evident. Rising temperatures, prolonged heatwaves, unpredictable storms, and sudden downpours pose escalating challenges to the safety, continuity, and integrity of the processions. Documented disruptions – such as storm damage in Viterbo (2007), structural risks in Palmi (2013), and suspended or altered routes in Sassari and Nola – signal a growing vulnerability. These effects are not only logistical but cultural: even temporary suspension or spatial displacement threatens to weaken the symbolic and emotional ties that bind communities to their traditions.
Despite this, current adaptation measures remain fragmented and mostly informal. While municipal planning documents (e.g., DUPs) increasingly acknowledge climate impacts on infrastructure and public health, they rarely integrate the specific needs of ICH.
Nonostante ciò, le attuali misure di adattamento rimangono frammentarie e per lo più informali. Sebbene i documenti di pianificazione comunale (ad esempio, i DUP) riconoscano sempre più spesso gli impatti del clima sulle infrastrutture e sulla salute pubblica, raramente integrano le esigenze specifiche dell’ICH.
Moreover, local heritage communities often operate with limited technical or institutional support to assess climate risks or redesign safeguarding strategies. The ritual nature of these events – tied to fixed calendars and ceremonial geographies – makes adaptive measures particularly complex.
The study highlights a critical gap: the need for cross-sectoral policies that bridge climate adaptation and cultural heritage protection. It also calls for more inclusive governance, in which heritage bearers and local institutions co-design resilience strategies that respect cultural authenticity while enhancing safety and sustainability. Initiatives at the international level (e.g., UNESCO’s engagement with climate and heritage) offer a conceptual foundation, but implementation at the national and municipal levels is still nascent.
In conclusion, the Network of Big Shoulder-borne Processional Structures serves as a powerful case for understanding how living heritage must evolve in the face of climate disruption. Its preservation cannot rely solely on cultural recognition, but must be supported by coordinated planning, community empowerment, and long-term investment in climate-resilient cultural policies.
