Passion of Christ of Naro
The oldest Passion play in Sicily, staged continuously since 1612 in the historic center of Naro.
About Passion of Christ of Naro
A tradition alive for over four centuries
The Passion of Christ of Naro is considered the oldest Passion play in Sicily: a sacred Easter representation that has been passed down continuously in the historic center of Naro, in the province of Agrigento, since 1612. Year after year, during Holy Week, the Naro community renews a collective rite that weaves together faith, popular theater, and identity, turning the Baroque town into a vast open-air stage.
The final thirty hours of Christ
The heart of the event is the reenactment of the final thirty hours of Jesus' earthly life: from the Last Supper to the arrests and trials, from the scourging at the pillar to the crucifixion, and finally the deposition in the tomb and the Resurrection. The scenes do not take place on a single stage but unfold along the squares, streets, and churches of the town, in an itinerant path that involves actors, extras, and residents in a single, intense choral narrative.
The sites of the Passion
The performance traverses the main sacred and civic spaces of Naro. Key moments come to life in the Church of Santa Caterina, along the route from Santa Caterina to San Francesco, in Piazza Garibaldi, at the Calvary, and in the Church of San Nicolò. On Easter Sunday, the Church of Santa Caterina hosts the scene of the Resurrection, a luminous conclusion to a journey that begins with the sorrow of the Passion.
A community as protagonist
The event is organized by the Camico iContemplAttivi Cultural Association, with artistic direction by Massimiliano Arena, under the patronage of the Franciscan Community of Naro and with the support of the Sicilian Regional Assembly. The Passion of Christ of Naro is registered as an intangible heritage of the Sicilian Region, a recognition that highlights its historical and anthropological value: not just a show, but a shared heritage that the city guards and passes down from generation to generation.
An experience to live in Naro
Attending the Passion of Christ means entering the rhythm of the Sicilian Holy Week, amidst popular devotion, suspended atmospheres, and the beauty of Naro's historic center. Admission is free and open to all: an opportunity to discover one of the most authentic and long-standing Easter rites in all of Sicily, in the heart of the Agrigento province.
Passion of Christ of Naro — edition 2026
414th edition (2026)
The 414th edition of the Passion of Christ of Naro unfolded throughout Holy Week, from March 29 to April 19, 2026, directed by Massimiliano Arena and organized by the Camico iContemplAttivi Cultural Association.
- Sunday, March 29 (Palm Sunday) – 10:00 AM from Santa Caterina to San Francesco: The Hosanna; 8:00 PM at the Church of Santa Caterina: From the Supper to the Trials.
- Friday, April 3 (Good Friday) – 10:00 AM from Piazza Garibaldi to the Calvary: From the Pillar to the Cross; 6:30 PM from the Calvary to the Church of San Nicolò: From the Cross to the Sepulcher.
- Sunday, April 5 (Easter) – 5:30 PM at the Church of Santa Caterina: The Resurrection.
- Sunday, April 19 (Naro Passion Day) – 5:30 PM at Casa ContemplAttiva: A convivial and celebratory moment of the tradition.
The event, with free admission, was held under the patronage of the Franciscan Community of Naro and with the support of the Sicilian Regional Assembly, as part of its recognition as an intangible heritage of the Sicilian Region.
Programme Passion of Christ of Naro 2026
2026 Program (414th edition)
- Sunday, March 29 – Palm Sunday: 10:00 AM from Santa Caterina to San Francesco (Hosanna); 8:00 PM Church of Santa Caterina, "From the Supper to the Trials".
- Friday, April 3 – Good Friday: 10:00 AM from Piazza Garibaldi to the Calvary, "From the Pillar to the Cross"; 6:30 PM from the Calvary to the Church of San Nicolò, "From the Cross to the Sepulcher".
- Sunday, April 5 – Easter: 5:30 PM Church of Santa Caterina, The Resurrection.
- Sunday, April 19 – Naro Passion Day: 5:30 PM Casa ContemplAttiva.
Highlights Passion of Christ of Naro 2026
- 414th edition of a tradition unbroken since 1612
- The Good Friday scenes: From the Pillar to the Cross and from the Cross to the Sepulcher
- The Resurrection in the Church of Santa Caterina on Easter Sunday
- Naro Passion Day, the concluding community event
Prices Passion of Christ of Naro 2026
Practical information — Passion of Christ of Naro
Location
The performances take place in the historic center of Naro (Agrigento province, Sicily), between the Church of Santa Caterina, the Church of San Nicolò, Piazza Garibaldi, and the Calvary.
How to get there
By car: Naro can be reached from the SS640 Agrigento–Caltanissetta road, taking the exit towards Naro/Canicattì. By train: the nearest station is Canicattì, which is connected by local bus lines. Nearest airports: Palermo and Catania.
Admission
Admission is free and open to all, with no booking required. It is recommended to arrive early for the most popular moments on Good Friday.
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Where does it take place — Passion of Christ of Naro
Centro storico di Naro