Editorial photo #13534933 Religion and Belief
The Desolata Of Canosa
Women participate in the Desolata ritual in Canosa di Puglia, Italy, on April 4, 2026. About 400 women are expected to march in procession through the streets of the city on Holy Saturday. On the morning of Holy Saturday, a large choir composed exclusively of women with veiled faces and dressed in black--some of whom still go barefoot--sings a traditional hymn, the Stabat Mater, based on the lyrics of Jacopone da Todi. (Photo by Davide Pischettola/NurPhoto)