Easter in Comiso – Le Paci
Easter Sunday blending faith, folklore, and the fourteen encounters between the Annunziata and the Risen Christ
About Le Paci of Comiso
One of Sicily's most heartfelt Easter celebrations
In Comiso, a Baroque town in the province of Ragusa in the heart of the Val di Noto, Easter Sunday is the most anticipated day of the year. The festival has a name that says it all: Le Paci (in the local dialect, 'A Paci), referring to the repeated encounters between the statues of Mary Most Holy Annunciata and the Risen Christ, which chase each other through the streets and squares of the town in front of every church. It is a rite that weaves deep faith with the energy of a popular festival, drawing thousands of locals and visitors every year.
The origins: from the Catalan 15th century to 1635
The Comiso Easter has its roots in the Catalan and Spanish rule of the island: the tradition dates back to the 15th century and has been continuously documented since 1635. The heart of the festival is the Basilica of Mary Most Holy Annunciata, built on the ruins of an ancient Byzantine church dedicated to Saint Nicholas, which became the city's main Marian place of worship during the Spanish era. The statues depart from and return to this church throughout the long Easter day.
The rite of Le Paci
The gesture that gives the festival its name is repeated in every parish of the town: the two statues, placed facing each other, approach and retreat three times at a run amidst the exultant crowd, following the singing of the Regina Coeli performed by two children dressed as angels. Easter day is marked by numerous such encounters, some particularly solemn, such as the one in Piazza Fonte Diana, where the mayor performs the act of entrusting the city to the divine.
Holy Week
The rites begin as early as Palm Sunday, with the blessing of olive branches and the procession that travels from the parvis of the Capuchin Church to the Basilica of the Annunciata. On Maundy Thursday, visitors tour the 'Sepolcri' (altars of repose) set up in the churches, draped in mourning and adorned with lavureddi—small plates of cereal grains sprouted in the dark, recalling the cycles of nature and the ancient Greek myth of Adonis. These are followed by the evening procession on Holy Saturday and the evocative nocturnal Easter vigil of Spanish tradition, leading up to the explosion of joy on Sunday.
Comiso and the Val di Noto
Visiting Comiso at Easter also means discovering a jewel of Sicilian Baroque in the province of Ragusa, the land that provides the setting for the Inspector Montalbano series. 'Le Paci' is the perfect opportunity to experience one of the most authentic religious and folkloric traditions of southeastern Sicily up close.
Le Paci of Comiso — edition 2026
Easter Day 2026
Easter Sunday in Comiso began at 7:30 AM with the ringing of the Basilica bells and the firing of the Sarvi Rigghina to announce the Resurrection. This was followed by the first Eucharistic celebration at 8:00 AM, brass bands playing through the center at 8:30 AM, and the solemn Mass at 9:30 AM in the Basilica.
At 10:30 AM, the processional entry of the statues of the Risen Jesus and Mary Most Holy Annunciata into the square kicked off the morning procession, with moments of Peace in Piazza Santissima Annunziata and in Piazza Fonte Diana, where the mayor renewed the act of entrusting the city. The afternoon procession traversed the neighborhoods and the churches of the Holy Apostles and Saint Joseph, concluding at midnight with the return of the statues to the Basilica and the final gesture of Peace.
Programme Le Paci of Comiso 2026
Sunday, April 5, 2026 – The Day of Le Paci
- 7:30 AM — Ringing of the Basilica bells and firing of the Sarvi Rigghina
- 8:00 AM — First Eucharistic celebration (Father Salvatore Bertino)
- 8:30 AM — Brass bands parade through the main streets
- 9:30 AM — Solemn Eucharistic celebration in the Basilica
- 10:30 AM — Processional entry of the statues (Risen Jesus and Mary Most Holy Annunciata) into the square
Morning Procession
Route: Piazza SS. Annunziata → staircase → via Can. Flaccavento → Piazza Fonte Diana → via Degli Studi → via Papa Giovanni XXIII → Sanctuary of the Immaculate → Piazza San Francesco → corso San Francesco → church of San Leonardo.
- Moments of Peace in Piazza SS. Annunziata and Piazza Fonte Diana (with the mayor's act of entrusting the city)
- 11:30 AM — Eucharistic celebration (Father Fabio Stracquadaini)
- 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM — Stop of the statues at the church of San Leonardo
Afternoon Procession
Route through the neighborhoods: via Rigotti, Roma, Villa Glori, Pirandello, Musco, nursing home, Vespucci, Mattei → church of the Holy Apostles → church of San Giuseppe (moment of Peace) → return to the historic center → Piazza SS. Annunziata.
- 7:00 PM — Eucharistic celebration (Father Biagio Ravalli)
- Midnight — Entry of the statues into the Basilica and final gesture of Peace
Holy Week
The rites began with Palm Sunday (blessing of olive branches and procession from the Capuchins to the Basilica), Maundy Thursday with the visit to the Sepolcri, and the evening procession and nocturnal vigil on Holy Saturday.
Highlights Le Paci of Comiso 2026
Prices Le Paci of Comiso 2026
Practical information — Le Paci of Comiso
How to get there
Comiso is located in the province of Ragusa, in the Val di Noto. By car, it can be reached via the SS115; the Comiso-Pio La Torre airport is just a few kilometers from the center. The most convenient train stations are in Comiso and Ragusa.
Where it takes place
The hub is the Basilica of Mary Most Holy Annunciata, in the heart of the historic center. The processions pass through Piazza Santissima Annunziata, Piazza Fonte Diana, Piazza San Francesco, and the city's various neighborhoods.
Costs and tips
Access to the rites is free and open to the public. It is recommended to arrive early to witness the morning departure of the statues and to explore the historic center on foot, given the movement of the processions.
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Where does it take place — Le Paci of Comiso
Basilica di Maria Santissima Annunziata
Piazza Santissima Annunziata, 97013 Comiso