Holy Week Processions in Meta
White and black hooded processions in the Sorrento Peninsula
About Holy Week in Meta
A centuries-old rite in the heart of the Sorrento Peninsula
The Holy Week Processions in Meta are among the most intense and deeply felt rituals in the entire Sorrento Peninsula. Every year, in the town of Meta (province of Naples, Campania), between Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, the streets empty of traffic and fill with torches, lines of hooded figures, and the chant of the Miserere. This is not a spectacle staged for tourists: it is a popular liturgy that local confraternities have passed down for over four centuries, involving entire families from generation to generation.
Two Archconfraternities, three processions
In Meta, Holy Week is entrusted to two ancient lay sodalities. The Archconfraternity of the Santissima Immacolata, established on October 5, 1590, by concession of Pope Clement VIII and elevated to the rank of archconfraternity in 1891 by Pope Leo XIII, is based in the Church of the Immacolata next to the Basilica of Santa Maria del Lauro and organizes the white procession on Maundy Thursday. The Archconfraternity of the Santissimo Crocifisso e Pio Monte dei Morti, founded in 1633 and canonically established in 1636, keeps its chapel in the left nave of the Basilica and leads the two black processions on Good Friday.
The white procession of Maundy Thursday
At sunset on Maundy Thursday, the brothers, dressed in white tunics, leave the Church of the Lauro and cross the center of Meta for the pilgrimage to the Altars of Repose. Each hooded figure carries a torch or one of the symbols of the Passion; the procession is opened by a female choir performing Eucharistic chants a cappella and closed by a male choir. The stop at the Church of Santa Lucia and the return to the Basilica of Santa Maria del Lauro are the most moving moments of the evening.
The black processions of Good Friday
Good Friday begins in the dead of night: around 2:30 AM, the procession of Our Lady of Sorrows leaves the Church of the Madonna del Lauro and walks in silence through the still-dark streets, with a moment of prayer at Piazza Ascensore. In the evening, it is time for the solemn procession of the Dead Christ, featuring the statue created by sculptor Girolamo Bagnasco: the black robe with a blue mozzetta and the silver medallion distinguish the brothers of the SS. Crocifisso. The rite concludes with the blessing with the Wood of the Cross and the chants of the Miserere and Ah sì! Versate lacrime.
The hooded figures, the chants, and the preparations
- Torches and lanterns, prepared by the brothers months in advance;
- Miserere choirs, passed down orally and rehearsed for weeks;
- Brass bands that accompany the slow pace of the procession;
- The "ticket" system, used to assign robes and positions in the line;
- The symbols of the Passion — cross, column, crown of thorns, nails — carried by hand by the brothers.
Meta, the Basilica del Lauro, and the area
Meta is a small town on the Sorrento coast, in the province of Naples, overlooking the gulf between Piano di Sorrento and Vico Equense. Its historic center revolves around the Pontifical Basilica of Santa Maria del Lauro, one of the oldest Marian sanctuaries in Campania, and preserves a network of alleys, stairs, and small squares that seem designed to host the processions. During the same week, similar processions take place in Sorrento, Piano di Sorrento, Sant'Agnello, and Vico Equense: those with time can follow them in sequence and discover how each town has developed its own style.
An intangible heritage to be experienced with respect
The processions of the Sorrento Peninsula are not just religious celebrations: they are an intangible heritage that binds faith, identity, and community together. Attendees are invited to maintain silence, avoid using camera flashes, and leave the path of the procession clear. It is this silence, more than anything else, that makes the Holy Week in Meta an unforgettable experience.
Holy Week in Meta — edition 2026
In 2026, the Holy Week in Meta, in the province of Naples, fell on April 2 and 3. The calendar followed the centuries-old tradition: on the evening of Maundy Thursday, the white procession of the Archconfraternity of the SS. Immacolata left the Church of the Lauro at 8:30 PM for the pilgrimage to the Altars of Repose; in the night between Thursday and Friday, at 2:30 AM, the black procession of Our Lady of Sorrows walked in silence through the still-dark town; on the evening of Good Friday, at 8:00 PM, the solemn procession of the Dead Christ of the Archconfraternity of the SS. Crocifisso e Pio Monte dei Morti closed the cycle with the blessing with the Wood of the Cross.
As every year, the routes touched Corso Italia, Via Caracciolo, Piazza Ascensore, and the Church of Santa Lucia, before returning to the Pontifical Basilica of Santa Maria del Lauro. Participation was free and open to all.
Programme Holy Week in Meta 2026
Thursday, April 2, 2026 — White Procession
8:30 PM, departure from the Church of the Lauro. Organized by the Archconfraternity of the SS. Immacolata (1590), with brothers in white tunics and the pilgrimage to the Altars of Repose.
Route: Via Cesine, Piazza Santa Maria del Lauro, Corso Italia, Via del Lauro, Via Vocale, Via Caracciolo, Piazza Casale, Via Santa Lucia, Church of Santa Lucia (Altar of Repose), Via Lamma, Via G. B. Liguori, Piazza Ascensore, Via A. Cosenza, Via Caracciolo to Ponte Madonna di Rosella, Via C. Colombo, Corso Italia, return to the Basilica of Santa Maria del Lauro.
Friday, April 3, 2026 — Black Procession of Our Lady of Sorrows
2:30 AM (night), departure from the Church of the Madonna del Lauro. Organized by the Archconfraternity of the SS. Crocifisso e Pio Monte dei Morti (1633), with the statue of Our Lady of Sorrows carried in pilgrimage to the altars.
Route: Piazza Santa Maria del Lauro, Corso Italia, Via Tommaso Astarita, Via Mariano Ruggiero, Via Casa Lauro, Via Flavio Gioia, Church of Santa Lucia, Piazza Ascensore (moment of prayer), Basilica Santa Maria del Lauro.
Friday, April 3, 2026 — Solemn Procession of the Dead Christ
8:00 PM, departure from the Church of the Madonna del Lauro. Organized by the Archconfraternity of the SS. Crocifisso e Pio Monte dei Morti, with the statue of the Dead Christ by sculptor Girolamo Bagnasco.
Route: Via Cesine, Piazza Santa Maria del Lauro, Via del Lauro, Via Vocale, Via Caracciolo, Via dei Cafiero, Piazza Scarpati, Via Lamma, Via Santa Lucia, Piazza Ascensore, Basilica Santa Maria del Lauro.
Conclusion: blessing with the Wood of the Cross, chants of the Miserere and Ah sì! Versate lacrime.
Highlights Holy Week in Meta 2026
- The white procession on Maundy Thursday, with the brothers of the SS. Immacolata in white tunics and a cappella choirs.
- The night procession of Our Lady of Sorrows at 2:30 AM, the most evocative moment of the entire Meta Holy Week.
- The solemn procession of the Dead Christ on Good Friday evening, with the statue by Girolamo Bagnasco.
- The chant of the Miserere and "Ah sì! Versate lacrime" upon returning to the Basilica.
- The pilgrimage to the Altars of Repose and the prayer stop at Piazza Ascensore.
- The symbols of the Passion and torches prepared by the brothers months in advance.
Prices Holy Week in Meta 2026
Practical information — Holy Week in Meta
How to get there
By train: the Circumvesuviana (Naples–Sorrento line) stops at Meta station, a few minutes' walk from the center and the Basilica of Santa Maria del Lauro. By car: take the Castellammare di Stabia motorway exit, then the SS145 Sorrentina; during the processions, the center is closed to traffic, and parking bans with towing are in effect. By bus: EAV lines along the Sorrento coast.
Admission and times
The processions take place along the public streets of Meta: access is free and open to all, with no tickets or reservations required. It is advisable to arrive at least 30–45 minutes before the start to find a good spot along the route.
Useful tips
- Bring a jacket: April evenings on the coast are still cool.
- The procession of Our Lady of Sorrows starts in the middle of the night: always check the updated times before heading out.
- Book your accommodation well in advance, as Easter is high season in the Sorrento Peninsula.
- Maintain silence during the procession and avoid using flashes: this is a religious rite, not a show.
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Where does it take place — Holy Week in Meta
Basilica Pontificia di Santa Maria del Lauro
Piazza Santa Maria del Lauro, 80062 Meta