There is no attempt to distort a religious festival that has been celebrated for nearly four hundred years, but rather the intention to adopt a rigorous and sensitive scientific approach to ensure that the statue and chariot of Sant'Efisio endure over time. Elena Anna Boldetti, Superintendent of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape, reassures the faithful and mayors of the municipalities affected by the passage of the May procession of the Martire Guerriero : "We have no intention of preventing people from expressing their devotion, nor do we plan to replace the ancient statue with a fiberglass copy."
The only certainty is that precautions will need to be taken to protect the statue of the saint and the chariot that accompanies him in procession: a major restoration project already entrusted to experts.
"As for the statue, repairing the finger broken during last May's procession won't be a problem," explains Elena Anna Boldetti. "The statue has several scratches caused by the rubbing of the jewelry while it was being dressed. In this case, we'll proceed with lacquering to remove them. We're considering how to protect it for next year. The chariot is more complex, as it's a machine in its own right and travels many kilometers. The goal is to combine the functionality of the mechanical parts with the most ancient elements that comprise it. In any case, the restoration of the chariot and the statue will provide an opportunity to gather useful data to develop solutions to prevent damage to the commemorative items. The work we're carrying out is conducted with a rigorous and sensitive scientific approach, thanks also to the contribution of an expert demo-ethno-anthropologist who studies the connection between the asset and the community to ensure scientifically valid and culturally respectful protection measures."
For the superintendent, the faithful awaiting the arrival of Sant'Efisio from Capoterra to Pula need not worry. The goal isn't to revolutionize the festival, but to pass it on to future generations while ensuring maximum safety for both the symbols, such as the statue and the chariot, and the people: "We will discuss with the municipal administrations and the Archconfraternity how to better manage certain aspects. To adequately manage the crowds, we will evaluate whether it would be better to reduce the saint's stops during processions, or even increase them to reduce crowding."