La Giudeata

La Giudeata, Good Friday comes to life in Chianciano Terme

In the heart of the Sienese Val di Chiana, every Good Friday, the historic center of Chianciano Terme (Province of Siena, Tuscany) transforms into a vast open-air theater. La Giudeata is the sacred popular representation of the Passion of Christ: a historical-religious procession involving about 150 participants in authentic period costumes, drawing locals and visitors alike through the streets of the spa town every year.

A tradition with 18th-century roots

The genre of Passion plays emerged around 1600 and spread throughout Europe. In Chianciano Terme, La Giudeata likely dates back to the 1700s; after being interrupted over time, it was revived in 1985 thanks to the dedication of Don Carlo Sensani, Antonello Betti, and Luciano Pucello. Since then, the event has grown into one of the most cherished appointments on the city calendar and is now part of the Europassione Italia national network, which brings together Passion representations from across the peninsula.

The historical procession and its groups

The first part of La Giudeata is a grand historical procession, divided into several groups that reconstruct the protagonists of the Gospel narrative:

• Roman Soldiers on horseback, with riders from the Tre Laghi Equestrian Association;
• the moving procession of Christ carrying the cross, followed by the Madonna and the Pious Women;
• the retinue of Pontius Pilate with handmaidens, dignitaries, and Senators;
• the court of Herod Antipas with Herodias and her handmaidens;
• the imposing Sanhedrin led by the High Priest Caiaphas, along with the crowd and the group of Nicodemus.

From historical scene to religious procession

The long procession is followed by the religious ceremony itself, led by the "Bonaventura Somma" Town Band. The precious sacred effigies of the Dead Christ — a Baroque wooden statue attributed to Paleari — and the Our Lady of Sorrows are carried on shoulders, accompanied by a large group of faithful in prayer. Before returning, the procession stops in Largo Aristeo Biancolini, in front of the Etruscan Archaeological Museum, where passages from the Gospel dedicated to the Passion are recited.

A living heritage of the community

More than just a spectacle, La Giudeata is a collective ritual that the Chianciano community preserves and passes down from generation to generation. As Mayor Torelli noted, "La Giudeata is not just a sacred representation: it is a living heritage of Chianciano Terme that allows us to pass on profound values." For those visiting Tuscany during Easter, it is an opportunity to discover an authentic and devotional side of the region, far from the most beaten tourist paths.