«Alfonso Mitrano» Living Stations of the Cross

A Passion that traverses the Agro Atellano

The «Alfonso Mitrano» Living Stations of the Cross is the most attended sacred representation in the Agro Atellano, the area of Campania named after the ancient Oscan city of Atella, spanning the provinces of Caserta and Naples. Every year, on Palm Sunday, the town of Succivo and the nearby center of Sant'Arpino turn into a single open-air stage: the Passion of Christ is performed through the streets and squares, before an audience that exceeded five thousand people in 2026.

This is not a show confined to a theater, but an itinerant dramatic procession lasting over five hours that involves the entire community: those who act, sew costumes, apply makeup, handle the horses, or manage audio and security. It is this choral dimension that makes the Succivo Stations of the Cross, as the organizers repeat, «the only event of the year that fully expresses the 'Atellan' identity».

From 1978 to today: the history of a family tradition

It all began in the late 1970s at the initiative of Alfonso Mitrano, who staged the first edition and continued to organize it until 1999, making it a landmark in the collective memory of the Atellano area. After a break, the event was revived by his son Antonio Mitrano, who has carried it forward for fourteen years without interruption alongside his siblings and a vast network of collaborators. Today, the organization is led by the Via Crucis «Alfonso Mitrano» Association.

Recent history also saw a painful episode: in January 2025, unknown individuals stole the historic wooden cross crafted by Alfonso Mitrano himself and kept at the Castello di Teverolaccio. The theft, reported by the committee, sparked a strong wave of solidarity throughout the region.

Over three hundred people on stage

Over three hundred people, including actors, extras, collaborators, and staff, are involved every year in the performance, supported by local sponsors and the municipal administration. The work does not end on Palm Sunday: as Antonio Mitrano recalled, «it is a journey that lasts all year, made of meetings, commitment, relationships, and sharing».

• Costumes and sets managed internally by the committee
• Horses, armor, and mobile scenery along the entire route
• Audio system and amplification in the squares for the main scenes
• Volunteers and Local Police overseeing the route

The route: from Teverolaccio to Piazzale Aldo Moro

The procession starts from the Castello di Teverolaccio, the main monument of Succivo, and crosses the two involved towns before reaching the square for the final scenes. The 2026 itinerary stages:

• Castello di Teverolaccio, gathering and departure
• Via Trivio del Castagno, Via Peppino Impastato, Via Marina Serena
• Piazzetta della Resistenza, in Sant'Arpino
• Via Don Mazzolari and Via Fratelli Rosselli
• Piazza IV Novembre, in Succivo
• Via Roma, Via Villa, Via Cadorna, Corso Sicilia
• Piazzetta Caduti sul Lavoro
• Via Clanio, Via Garcia Lorca, Via XXIV Maggio
• Piazzale Aldo Moro, formerly Piazzale Montegrappa, site of the grand finale

The scenes of the Passion

The Gospel narrative is distributed along the route, so that each square becomes the set for a different episode: the meeting between Herod and the Baptist, the temptation of Jesus in the desert, the miracle of Jairus' daughter, the trial of Pilate, the flagellation, the climb to Calvary, the meeting between Mary and the Risen Christ, and the final Resurrection in Piazzale Aldo Moro. The strength of the performance lies in the alternation between choral scenes and more intimate moments, followed in silence by an often moved audience.

Succivo and the Castello di Teverolaccio

Succivo is a small town in the province of Caserta, in Campania, nestled in the plain north of Naples. Its symbol is the Casale di Teverolaccio, an ancient fortified village now restored as a venue for events, exhibitions, and festivals. The Living Stations of the Cross is the event that identifies the town more than any other and kicks off the season of major local manifestations.

Why it's worth the trip

For those visiting Campania during the Easter period, it is an opportunity to witness an authentic popular tradition, far from mass tourism circuits: no stage, no ticket, just an entire town pouring into the streets to accompany the procession. It is advisable to position yourself early in the squares of the main scenes — Piazzetta della Resistenza, Piazza IV Novembre, Piazzetta Caduti sul Lavoro, and Piazzale Aldo Moro — where visibility is best.