Holy Week – Lu N'Contru of Jesus and Mary
Easter rites and the moving N'Contru between the statues of Jesus and Mary
About Holy Week in Gibellina
The Holy Week of Gibellina
Every year, during the week leading up to Easter, Gibellina — a town in the province of Trapani, Sicily — celebrates one of its most deep-rooted traditions: Holy Week, an intense journey of faith and devotion that guides the community from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. The celebrations are promoted by the Cultural Association Congregation of Jesus and Mary with the patronage of the Municipality of Gibellina.
Lu N'Contru: the heart of Gibellina's Easter
The most anticipated and evocative moment is "Lu N'Contru di Gesù e Maria", the meeting between the two sacred statues that takes place on Easter morning in Piazza 15 Gennaio 1968. According to tradition, the bearers walk up and down the avenue twice, and only on the third attempt, in a festive atmosphere, do the members of the Congregation rotate the statues of the Madonna and Jesus until they meet. The moment is greeted by a spectacular burst of color and daytime fireworks, turning the square into a vibrant popular celebration.
Art and memory in New Gibellina
The setting for the rite is unique in Italy: the square is dominated by the backdrop of the "City of Thebes" by Pietro Consagra and the nearby Civic Tower by Alessandro Mendini. Gibellina, rebuilt after the 1968 Belice earthquake, is one of Italy's capitals of open-air contemporary art, where popular devotion engages with the great landmarks of 20th-century architecture and sculpture.
A day of rites and sounds
Easter Sunday begins at dawn with the Tammuriniata, the town's wake-up call to the rhythm of drums through the streets, followed by the "Sounds of Easter" performed by the "G. Rossini" Band Association of Gibellina. After the solemn Eucharistic celebration in the Mother Church and the blessing of the Angel, everything converges toward the meeting of the statues and the final procession through the town center.
- Promoter: Congregation of Jesus and Mary
- Location of the N'Contru: Piazza 15 Gennaio 1968
- Band: "G. Rossini" Band Association of Gibellina
- Free admission to all rites and processions
Holy Week in Gibellina — edition 2026
The 2026 Holy Week in Gibellina followed the traditional liturgical calendar: Palm Sunday on March 29, Holy Thursday on April 2, Good Friday on April 3, and Holy Saturday on April 4, culminating on Easter Sunday, April 5. The event, promoted by the Congregation of Jesus and Mary with the patronage of the Municipality, reaffirmed its religious and cultural value for the Belice Valley community.
Programme Holy Week in Gibellina 2026
Easter Sunday — April 5, 2026
- 08:00 — Tammuriniata, the town's wake-up call through the streets
- 08:30 — "Sounds of Easter" through the streets, by the "G. Rossini" Band Association of Gibellina
- 09:00 — Solemn Eucharistic Celebration at the Mother Church
- 10:00 — Blessing of the Angel on Viale B. Joppolo (at the Fazzino family home)
- 11:30 — "Lu N'Contru di Gesù e Maria" in Piazza 15 Gennaio 1968: meeting of the statues with a burst of color and a daytime fireworks display
- 11:45 — Solemn Procession of the statues toward the Mother Church, along Via F. De Roberto, Via Scarlatti, and Via Brancati
- 17:00 — Solemn Eucharistic Celebration at the Mother Church
Holy Week
- March 29 — Palm Sunday
- April 2 — Holy Thursday
- April 3 — Good Friday
- April 4 — Holy Saturday
Highlights Holy Week in Gibellina 2026
Prices Holy Week in Gibellina 2026
Practical information — Holy Week in Gibellina
How to get there
Gibellina is located in the Belice Valley, in the province of Trapani. By car, take the A29 Palermo–Mazara del Vallo motorway, exit at Salemi, then follow signs for Gibellina. The nearest train station is Salemi-Gibellina.
Rites and admission
All celebrations, processions, and the N'Contru are free to attend and take place in public spaces (Mother Church, Piazza 15 Gennaio 1968, and the town center streets). The highlight is on Easter morning: it is advisable to arrive in the square a little early to witness the meeting of the statues and the daytime fireworks.
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Noticed an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every proposal is verified by our team before publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Where does it take place — Holy Week in Gibellina
Piazza 15 Gennaio 1968
Piazza 15 Gennaio 1968, 91024 Gibellina