Corsa dell'Angelo (Easter Resurrection Re-enactment)

The Corsa dell'Angelo, the Easter rite of Lacco Ameno

On Easter Day, the small town of Lacco Ameno, on the island of Ischia in the Province of Naples, relives one of its most heartfelt traditions: the Corsa dell'Angelo. This sacred pageant stages the encounter between the Risen Christ and his Mother, celebrating the victory of life over death. The rite has its roots in the 17th century and has been passed down from generation to generation, strengthening the sense of community and popular devotion of the island's inhabitants every year.

Wooden statues and ancient ceremonial

The protagonists of the re-enactment are the 17th and 18th-century wooden statues depicting Saint Mary Magdalene, Saint John, the Madonna, and the Angel. Kept in the church of SS. Maria Assunta, they are carried in procession on the shoulders of confraternity members along the town's streets to the central Piazza Santa Restituta. Here, every year, skilled hands set up the Holy Sepulchre, inside which the statue of the Risen Christ is placed, hidden from view by the stone that seals it.

The three runs toward the Sepulchre

The culminating moment is the Angel's run, which symbolizes the announcement of Christ's resurrection to the Madonna. The Angel performs three runs and three bows toward the Virgin, representing the three days Jesus spent in the tomb. At the third run, the stone of the Sepulchre opens: the Madonna sheds her mourning veil and is reunited with her Risen Son, in a moment of great collective emotion accompanied by fireworks, gunshots, and the sound of festive bells.

Intangible Heritage of Campania

In September 2025, the Corsa dell'Angelo was inscribed in the inventory of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Campania Region, a recognition that confirms its identity and anthropological value. The event is organized by the Confraternity of SS. Maria Assunta in Cielo together with the Municipality of Lacco Ameno, with the support of the Metropolitan City of Naples.

Tradition and community

The Corsa dell'Angelo is not just a religious rite, but an event that involves the entire community of Lacco Ameno and the many visitors who choose Ischia during the Easter period. Other festive initiatives revolve around the re-enactment over time, animating the town center between Piazza Santa Restituta, Piazza Rosario, and the seafront, making Easter in Lacco Ameno a unique experience in the panorama of popular traditions in Campania.