I Battenti

• Photographer
  Stefano Gerardi, Italy
• Website
  http://stefanogerardi.it

Every seven years Guardia Sanframondi, a little town of south Italy,
the week following the 15th of August, has penitential rites in Honor
of the Assumption Madonna.The four quarters of town organize a
parade of "mysteries" (religious scenes), with volunteers in period
costumes from the Old Testament, New Testament, and Lives of
Saints.On Sunday all the quarters form a procession and several
flagellanti ("flagellants"), who gently strike their backs with a metal
scourge, and several battenti ("beaters"), who strike their chests with
a spugna (literally "sponge,")