Holy Week in Calascibetta

A week of faith in the heart of Sicily

Perched on a cliff riddled with caves opposite Enna, Calascibetta is one of the most evocative medieval villages in inland Sicily. In this setting of stone, narrow alleys, and panoramic views, Holy Week represents the pinnacle of local popular religiosity: a series of rites that, while following Spanish-influenced models, stand out for the intensity and fervor linked to the town's culture.

From Palm Sunday to Holy Thursday

Celebrations open on Palm Sunday with the procession of u Signuruzzu da rama d'aliva: a child impersonating Jesus enters the town on a donkey, commemorating the entry into Jerusalem. The procession starts from the Church of the Itria and reaches the Mother Church for the blessing of palms and olive branches and the Holy Mass; in the afternoon, a Stations of the Cross winds through the town's districts. On Holy Thursday, the in Coena Domini Mass is celebrated with the re-enactment of the twelve Apostles.

Good Friday: The Urn and the Addolorata

On Good Friday, in the evening, the most solemn procession departs from the small Church of the Itria: the Urn of the Dead Christ and the Madonna Addolorata slowly traverse the streets of the historic center, accompanied by confraternities and the town band, in an atmosphere of contemplation that involves the entire community.

The 'Ncuntru on Easter Sunday

The climax occurs on Easter Sunday with the 'Ncuntru, the meeting between the Risen Christ and the Madonna in Piazza Umberto I. The confraternities line up in two rows, leaving a central corridor; when the two statues catch sight of each other in the distance, the Madonna's black mourning cloak is suddenly pulled away, and after a rapid run carried on shoulders, the two images meet in the center of the square to the sound of the hymn played by the band. From there, the united procession reaches the Mother Church for the solemn Easter Mass.

Confraternities and organization

The rites are organized by the Congregation of the Itria together with the Sant'Antonio Association and the Confraternity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary Most Holy of Carmel, with the support of the Municipality of Calascibetta. For visitors, Holy Week is also an opportunity to discover the medieval village, the Mother Church with the Tower of Saint Peter, and the rock-hewn caves that tell the Byzantine and Norman history of the town.

Calascibetta is located in the province of Enna, in the heart of Sicily, just a few kilometers from the provincial capital.