Alfonso Mitrano Living Via Crucis

A sacred performance that unites the Agro Atellano

The Alfonso Mitrano Living Via Crucis is the most popular religious and community event in the Agro Atellano, the territory straddling the provinces of Caserta and Naples. Every year, on Palm Sunday, the streets of Sant'Arpino and Succivo, in Campania, turn into a massive open-air stage: not just a simple procession, but an itinerant theatrical performance that lasts over five hours, seamlessly crossing both municipalities.

It is the only event of the year capable of bringing the entire Atellano area together: a defining identity trait that the organizers proudly uphold and which explains why the Via Crucis has become much more than just an Easter event over the years.

Since 1978, a family tradition

It all began in 1978, when Alfonso Mitrano created the first edition of the sacred play, managing it with dedication until 1999. After a few years of hiatus, the event was revived by his son Antonio Mitrano, now president of the Committee bearing his father's name, supported by his siblings and a large group of collaborators and volunteers.

The Committee works year-round, not just in spring: activities continue throughout the year with meetings, rehearsals, and community initiatives, extending even to the Christmas living nativity scene. "This event creates authentic bonds and makes everyone feel part of something important," Antonio Mitrano explained at the end of the 2026 edition.

The route between Sant'Arpino and Succivo

The performers gather in the early afternoon at the Castello di Teverolaccio, on the Via Trivio del Castagno entrance side, where parking is also available. From there, the procession enters the territory of Sant'Arpino and then returns to Succivo, touching squares and streets that become scenic stations along the way.

• Via Trivio del Castagno, Via Peppino Impastato, and Via Marina Serena
• Piazzetta della Resistenza (formerly Piazzetta Paradiso), in Sant'Arpino
• Via Don Mazzolari and Via Fratelli Rosselli
• Via Garibaldi and Corso Umberto I
• Piazza IV Novembre, in Succivo
• Via Roma, Via Villa, Via Cadorna, and Corso Sicilia
• Piazzetta Caduti sul Lavoro
• Via Clanio, Via Garcia Lorca, and Via 24 Maggio
• Piazzale Aldo Moro (formerly Piazzale Montegrappa), where the final scenes take place

The scenes of the Passion

The dramaturgy is not limited to the story of Calvary: the performance starts earlier, with prophetic figures and evangelical passages that prepare for the Passion. Throughout the afternoon, the appearance of Saint Michael, Saint Simeon, and the prophet Isaiah, the preaching of the Baptist, the Baptism of Jesus, the Beatitudes, the presentation of the Apostles, and the entry into Jerusalem are depicted.

These are followed by the court of Herod, the temptation of Jesus in the desert, the miracle of Jairus's daughter, the trial of Pontius Pilate, the scourging, and finally the Crucifixion, Mary's encounter with the Risen Christ, and the concluding Resurrection, which takes place late in the evening.

Numbers and participation

The 2026 edition drew over five thousand spectators along the route, with more than three hundred people involved as actors, extras, collaborators, and support staff: considering the entire organizational machine, the organizers estimate about five hundred participants. The mayor of Succivo, Salvatore Papa, defined the event as "the beating heart of our community," emphasizing its ability to strengthen social bonds across different generations.

Why it is worth attending

Visitors from outside the area will find a rare example of participatory popular theater: meticulous costumes, careful direction, and an entire territory that pauses for a few hours. The Alfonso Mitrano Via Crucis is simultaneously a religious rite, a street performance, and a symbol of the Agro Atellano identity, remaining one of the most intense moments of Holy Week in the province of Caserta, Campania.