Good Friday Way of the Cross Processions
The Holy Week processions through the streets of Ancona's neighbourhoods
About Good Friday Way of the Cross
Good Friday in Ancona
Among the most intense rites of Holy Week, the Good Friday Way of the Cross processions represent an event of deep popular participation for Ancona. Promoted by the Archdiocese of Ancona-Osimo together with the city's parishes, the processions accompany the faithful in meditating on the Passion of Christ along the streets of the centre and neighbourhoods, in an atmosphere of prayer and silence that involves thousands of people in the capital of the Marche region every year.
The Celebration in the Cathedral
The focal point of the day is the celebration of the Lord's Passion in the Cathedral of San Ciriaco, which overlooks the city from Guasco hill. The rite, presided over by Archbishop Angelo Spina, includes the proclamation of the Passion, the adoration of the Cross, and the Eucharistic communion. From here, the city's Way of the Cross begins, descending along the historic Scalone Nappi and proceeding through the centre, accompanied by moments of meditation on the Passion.
Processions in the Neighbourhoods
What makes this tradition particularly vibrant in Ancona is the plurality of processions: in addition to the one from the Cathedral, numerous parishes organize their own Way of the Cross on the same evening, creating a mosaic of processions that simultaneously traverse the city's various districts. Among the neighbourhoods usually involved are:
- Piano San Lazzaro, with the parish of the Holy Family (Salesians)
- Posatora, with the parish of Santa Maria Liberatrice
- Piazzale Camerino, with the parish of Christ the Worker
- Brecce Bianche, with the parishes of San Gaspare del Bufalo and the Sacred Heart
- Porto and surrounding areas, with Santa Maria delle Grazie and San Francesco d'Assisi
To ensure the smooth running of the processions, the Local Police of the Municipality of Ancona issues specific ordinances each year suspending traffic and prohibiting parking in the affected areas.
A Rite that Unites the City
The Good Friday Way of the Cross are not just a liturgical event: they are a heritage of popular traditions that, from parish to parish, hold the neighbourhoods of Ancona together in the sign of shared faith and memory. Walking in the evening behind the Cross, illuminated by torches, along the streets of the Marche capital is an experience that tells the religious and community identity of the city on one of the most solemn days of the Christian year.
Good Friday Way of the Cross — edition 2026
Good Friday 2026 fell on April 3rd. The celebration of the Lord's Passion was presided over by Archbishop Angelo Spina in the Cathedral of San Ciriaco, with the proclamation of the Passion, adoration of the Cross, and Eucharistic communion.
Due to ongoing road works, the city's Way of the Cross started from the Cathedral, descended along the Scalone Nappi to the Church of the Scalzi, and then returned to the Cathedral via Via Papa Giovanni XXIII, accompanied by moments of meditation on the Passion of Christ.
In the evening, the numerous neighbourhood processions organized by individual parishes took place, with parking bans and traffic closures implemented by the Local Police in the affected areas.
Programme Good Friday Way of the Cross 2026
Friday, April 3, 2026
Celebration of the Lord's Passion — Cathedral of San Ciriaco, presided over by Archbishop Angelo Spina (proclamation of the Passion, adoration of the Cross, communion).
City Way of the Cross — departure at 6:30 PM from the Cathedral of San Ciriaco, descent along the Scalone Nappi to the Church of the Scalzi and return to the Cathedral via Via Papa Giovanni XXIII (parish of S. Pietro in S. Francesco alle Scale).
- Salesians in Piano (parish of the Holy Family) — 9:00 PM from the small wooden church in via Vallemiano, along via Macerata, via delle Grazie, piazza Ugo Bassi, corso Carlo Alberto, and return
- Posatora (parish of Santa Maria Liberatrice) — 9:00 PM from via Monte Vettore towards via M.L. King
- Piazzale Camerino (parish of Christ the Worker) — 9:00 PM from via Civitanova along via Lamaticci, via Pesaro, via Falconara, via Fabriano, via Arcevia, and return
- Brecce Bianche (parishes of San Gaspare del Bufalo and the Sacred Heart) — 9:00 PM, arriving at piazza Troisi
- Porto and surrounding areas (Santa Maria delle Grazie and San Francesco d'Assisi) — 9:30 PM, arriving at the Church of Santa Maria di Loreto
Highlights Good Friday Way of the Cross 2026
Prices Good Friday Way of the Cross 2026
Practical information — Good Friday Way of the Cross
When
Good Friday, as part of the Easter Triduum. The celebration of the Lord's Passion in the Cathedral takes place in the afternoon; the city's Way of the Cross starts from the Cathedral of San Ciriaco. The neighbourhood processions start in the evening, generally between 9:00 PM and 9:30 PM from their respective parishes.
Where
Cathedral of San Ciriaco (Guasco hill) and various neighbourhoods of Ancona (Piano, Posatora, Piazzale Camerino, Brecce Bianche, Porto).
How to get there
Ancona is reachable by train (Ancona Centrale station) and by car from the A14 motorway. The Cathedral is located on Guasco hill, in the upper part of the city; traffic-restricted zones are active nearby during the processions.
Costs
Free admission to all celebrations and processions.
Traffic
During the processions, the Local Police impose parking bans and temporary traffic closures in the affected streets: it is advisable to check the ordinances published by the Municipality of Ancona.
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Where does it take place — Good Friday Way of the Cross
Cattedrale di San Ciriaco
Piazza del Senato, 60121 Ancona