Holy Week in Alimena
The lamentanze, the Agniduzzu Nnuccenti, and the Casazza in the heart of the Madonie mountains
About Alimena Holy Week
One of the oldest traditions in the Madonie
In the village of Alimena, perched in the Madonie mountains in the province of Palermo, Holy Week is not just a religious observance but the defining moment of the entire community's identity. This tradition dates back to the 18th century and every year transforms the town's streets and churches into an open-air theater dedicated to the Passion of Christ.
The lamentanze, the heart of the rite
The beating heart of Alimena's Holy Week are the lamentanze: polyphonic chants that recount the Passion of Christ and the sorrow of Mary. They are performed in the Sicilian dialect and in a "highly altered" Latin, adapted to the needs of vocal projection. The choir is arranged in a semicircle and structured into multiple parts—first voice, seconds, and basses—according to wisdom passed down from generation to generation. The lamentanze echo from Palm Sunday until Good Friday, at the altars of repose, during the adoration of the cross, and upon the return of the processions. Today, Alimena is one of the few places in Sicily that still guards this rare form of singing.
The Agniduzzu Nnuccenti and the Casazza
On Holy Wednesday, the Agniduzzu Nnuccenti takes the stage, a theatrical representation of the Passion of Christ featuring the local lamentatori and their chants. In the following days, the Casazza comes to life, the sacred representation that also gives its name to the historic "A Casazza" Association, which preserves and promotes these traditions alongside the Municipality.
Good Friday and the procession of the Urn
The most solemn moment is Good Friday. At noon, the call of the truccula summons the faithful to the Mother Church; in the evening, the procession carrying the glass urn with the statue of Christ winds its way from the Mother Church to the Calvary, where the statue is taken down from the cross. The streets of the historic center—Via Roma, Via Cavour, and the town's narrow alleys—welcome the procession in an atmosphere of deep reflection.
An authentic experience
Experiencing Holy Week in Alimena means immersing yourself in a deep and authentic Sicily, far from mass tourism circuits. It is an opportunity to discover a village in the Madonie and a community that, through the voices of its lamentanze, safeguards a cultural heritage unique in the region.
Alimena Holy Week — edition 2026
The 2026 Program
The 2026 Holy Week in Alimena opened on Sunday, March 29, with the blessing of the palms in the square and concluded on Sunday, April 5.
- Palm Sunday (March 29) — Blessing of the palms in the square and start of the lamentanze.
- Holy Wednesday — Theatrical performance of the Agniduzzu Nnuccenti (Passion of Christ) with the performance of local lamentatori.
- Holy Thursday — Recitation of the Passion of Christ, performance of the Casazza, and in the evening, the evocative "procession without priests" by torchlight from the Church of the Carmine.
- Good Friday (April 3) — At noon, the call of the truccula towards the Mother Church; in the evening, the solemn procession of the glass urn with the statue of Christ from the Mother Church to the Calvary.
The polyphonic lamentanze accompanied the entire week, from the altars of repose in the churches to the return of the processions, confirming Alimena as one of the few Sicilian centers that preserve this tradition.
Programme Alimena Holy Week 2026
Palm Sunday — March 29
- Blessing of the palms in the square and start of the lamentanze
Holy Wednesday
- Theatrical performance of Agniduzzu Nnuccenti (Passion of Christ) with the lamentatori of Alimena
Holy Thursday
- Recitation of the Passion of Christ and performance of the Casazza
- 10:00 PM — "Procession without priests" by torchlight from the Church of the Carmine (urns of the Crucified Christ, Our Lady of Sorrows, and Mary Magdalene), along Via Roma, Via Fondachi, and the Calvary staircase
Good Friday — April 3
- Morning — Visit to the altars of repose set up in the town's churches
- Noon — Call of the truccula towards the Mother Church
- Evening — Procession of the glass urn with the statue of Christ from the Mother Church to the Calvary, with deposition from the cross; route along Via Roma, Via Cavour, and the streets of the historic center
Highlights Alimena Holy Week 2026
Prices Alimena Holy Week 2026
Practical information — Alimena Holy Week
How to get there
Alimena is located in the hinterland of the Madonie, in the province of Palermo. By car, it can be reached via the SS120; the nearest airport is Palermo "Falcone-Borsellino". Trains and public transport are limited: a car is the most convenient way to travel.
When
The events take place throughout Holy Week, from Palm Sunday to Good Friday, culminating in the evening procession on Friday.
Admission
The celebrations and processions are free and open to everyone.
Tips
We recommend comfortable clothing for following the processions on foot along the cobblestone streets of the historic center, and a jacket for the evenings, which remain cool in spring in the Madonie.
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Where does it take place — Alimena Holy Week
Chiesa Madre e centro storico