Good Friday Procession (Dead Christ)

A ritual that touches the soul of L'Aquila

The Good Friday Procession, known to all as the Dead Christ Procession, is one of the most deeply rooted religious traditions in the capital of Abruzzo. In the heart of L'Aquila's historic center, the ritual transforms Good Friday evening into a long moment of collective reflection: public lights are dimmed, the procession moves slowly, and the entire city participates in silence in this journey of sorrow and hope.

History: from 1505 to the 1954 renewal

The roots of this devotion run deep: the first records of the Passion effigies date back to 1505. The modern procession, which still travels through the city streets today, was established in 1954 on the initiative of seminarian Nicola Roccioletti. Since then, the ritual has been renewed every year, interrupted only by exceptional events such as the 2009 earthquake and the pandemic. It is an unbroken thread that binds generations of locals and makes this event a pillar of the city's identity.

The effigies and contemporary art

What makes the L'Aquila procession unique is the decision to entrust the Passion effigies to modern art. Most of the statues bear the signature of artist Remo Brindisi: the Dead Christ, the Our Lady of Sorrows, and the Angel with the Chalice parade through the crowd as works of contemporary art, carefully restored over time with the support of the Academy of Fine Arts of L'Aquila. The statues, kept in the Basilica of San Bernardino, are displayed to the faithful in the days leading up to and following the ritual.

The choir and the atmosphere

The procession is accompanied by the Good Friday Choir, an ensemble that brings together the city's various choral groups. Their voices intone the Miserere and traditional chants, giving voice to mourning and meditation. It is this soundtrack, combined with the darkness and the candlelight, that makes the experience unforgettable for those who witness it.

A community event

The organization is managed by the lay association of the Knights of Good Friday, which has overseen the ritual and the maintenance of the statues since 2000, in collaboration with the friars of the Basilica of San Bernardino and numerous local entities. The procession is preceded on Holy Thursday by liturgical rites in the cathedral and the Mass of the Lord's Supper, featuring the Washing of the Feet for members of the honor guard.

• Municipality: L'Aquila (Province of L'Aquila, Abruzzo)
• Departure and arrival: Basilica of San Bernardino
• When: Good Friday evening
• Admission: free