Holy Week – Procession of the Sacred Mysteries

The 2025 edition confirmed the central role of Holy Week in the identity of Mottola, in the province of Taranto. The rite of the Sacred Mysteries took place as tradition dictates at dawn on Holy Saturday, April 19, with the twelve sculptural groups carried on the shoulders of the Carmine brothers through the streets of the historic center.

Surrounding the processions, the community also proposed moments of study and appreciation: a conference dedicated to the historical, artistic, and religious roots of the tradition brought together historians, composers, and church officials, while the statues of the Mysteries were the protagonists of a museum exhibition with guided tours of crypts and sanctuaries. Simulacra, traditional vestments, gestures, and unmistakable funeral marches restored the unique atmosphere of this Easter event.

The Procession of the Sacred Mysteries took place at dawn on Holy Saturday, April 19, 2025, departing from the Chiesa del Carmine. The Holy Week rites followed the traditional schedule: Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday with the Pilgrimage of the Paranze, Good Friday, and the climax on Holy Saturday. The tradition was accompanied by a study conference and a museum exhibition dedicated to the Mysteries, with days of guided tours.