Easter Procession – Lu 'Ncontru

Ribera's most heartfelt ritual

In Ribera, in the heart of the Agrigento province, Easter is more than just a religious holiday: it is the most attended celebration of the entire year. On Easter Sunday, Corso Umberto I, the main artery of the historic center, fills with thousands of people—around ten thousand locals and visitors from nearby towns—to witness "Lu 'Ncontru", the processional meeting between the Risen Christ and the Madonna.

What "Lu 'Ncontru" means

In the Sicilian dialect, 'ncontru means "encounter": the ritual stages the moment when the Madonna, still draped in mourning, recognizes her risen Son. Three statues are the protagonists: the Risen Christ, Our Lady of Peace, and Saint Michael the Archangel. From the morning, men decorate the platforms of the Christ and the Archangel with colorful ribbons, flowers, and fava beans, symbols of spring rebirth, while women prepare the Madonna with a black cloak that hides a blue one, ready to be revealed at the moment of the encounter.

The palio race and the meeting

The day is marked by the characteristic "race" of the palii—the large fabric banners created by local confraternities and artisans—which parade and run along the Corso. Young men precede Saint Michael shouting "Largo, largo!" (Make way!), clearing the path for the announcement of the Resurrection. When the two statues of Christ and the Madonna finally meet, they are made to "jump" several times in the air, as if in a dance, and the Madonna bows three times before her risen Son, while the black cloak falls away to reveal the blue one. It is the most moving moment, amidst applause, shouts of joy, tears, prayers, flying doves, and festive bells.

A tradition between faith and folklore

The entire Holy Week in Ribera is full of events. On Good Friday, the solemn procession known as "la calata di la Cruci" takes place: the statue of the Dead Christ remains on the cross until late afternoon, then is placed in an urn and, together with the statue of Our Lady of Sorrows, accompanied along the entire course to the Mother Church. On Sunday, however, the joy of "Lu 'Ncontru" explodes, with richly decorated floral platforms, lights along the street, and fireworks.

Ribera, the City of Oranges

Known as the "City of Oranges" for its famous Washington Navel oranges, Ribera is a town in southwestern Sicily, in the province of Agrigento, just a few kilometers from the sea. "Lu 'Ncontru" represents the identity of the community: a ritual passed down from generation to generation that weaves together popular devotion, theatricality, and a sense of belonging, drawing emigrants and tourists every year eager to relive the emotion of the Ribera Easter.