Passion of Christ Procession (Good Friday)

A night of devotion in the heart of Tuscia

The Passion of Christ Procession is the ritual that, every Good Friday, brings together the entire community of Monterosi, a small town in the province of Viterbo, in northern Lazio. As evening falls, the town lights are dimmed and the procession moves from the Santa Croce church to travel through the streets of the historic center, with Via Roma serving as the main axis of the celebration. It is a solemn and intimate event, where liturgical and popular traditions have intertwined for generations.

The route and atmosphere

The procession is not a spectacle, but a shared journey. The faithful walk in line behind the symbols of the Passion, accompanied by lanterns, torches, and the singing of traditional prayers. Houses along the route are illuminated and decorated by the residents, turning Via Roma into a kind of open-air nave. The slow pace of the procession and the surrounding silence offer visitors a tangible sense of what Holy Week means in a Lazio village.

The statuary Lamentation of Christ

Since 2024, the Monterosi procession has gained fame far beyond the borders of Tuscia thanks to the Sacred Representation of the Lamentation of Christ, set up in Piazza Garibaldi. It is a monumental work consisting of eighteen statues ranging from 2.20 to 5 meters in height, handcrafted by local masters Mario and Marco Agrestini using Renaissance-inspired techniques: the Christ and the two thieves are made entirely of terracotta, while the other figures feature terracotta heads and hands with the rest made of mixed materials, including papier-mâché, wood, and plaster.

As the procession passes in front of the sculptural group, a theater company in medieval attire recites the Lauds of Jacopone da Todi, particularly the famous Lament of the Madonna. The reference is to those ancient sacred representations and tableaux vivants that, in the Middle Ages, staged the various iconographies of the Passion for an audience that could not read.

Who organizes it

• Santa Croce Parish, which oversees the liturgical aspects and the procession route
• Municipality of Monterosi, for the organization and safety of the historic center
• Pro Loco Monterosi, together with local volunteers, for the setup of Piazza Garibaldi

Why visit

Monterosi is located along the ancient Via Cassia, halfway between Rome and Viterbo, in a territory of volcanic lakes and medieval villages. Good Friday is arguably the best time to discover it: there are no crowds typical of large events, but rather an entire town setting out on a journey. For those visiting Lazio, it is also an opportunity to include Monterosi in a Holy Week itinerary, which in the province of Viterbo includes dozens of processions and representations, from the provincial capital to the small towns of Tuscia.

Tips for participants

• Arrive well in advance: the streets of the historic center are narrow and the best spots to follow the procession fill up quickly
• Dress modestly and behave respectfully: this is a religious rite, not a folklore festival
• Bring a jacket: April evenings in Tuscia are still cool
• Take photos without flash to avoid disturbing the procession