Procession of the Mysteries - Good Friday
The most solemn rite of Holy Week in Minervino Murge
About Procession of the Mysteries
Good Friday in Minervino Murge
The Procession of the Mysteries is the highlight of Holy Week in Minervino Murge, a town in the upper Murgia region of the Province of Barletta-Andria-Trani (known as the BAT), in Puglia. Every Good Friday, as dusk falls, the historic center transforms into a vast, open-air sacred theater: lights are dimmed, bells fall silent, and eight statues are carried slowly through lines of crowds gathered in prayer. It is the ritual that, more than any other, expresses the religious and popular soul of the Minervino community.
Eight statues and the relic of the Holy Wood
The procession begins at 7:00 PM from Piazza Aldo Moro and travels through the main city streets to Piazza Bovio, returning late in the evening. The procession is led by the penitential cross bearing the symbols of the Passion; it is followed by the statues depicting the stations of the Via Crucis, brought from the town's various churches: Jesus in the Garden of Olives, the Scourged Christ, the Ecce Homo, the wooden crucifix carved in Ortisei, the Calvary group, and the Pietà . Along with the eight statues, the venerated relic of the Holy Wood is carried in the procession, guarded and honored by the community.
Brotherhoods and parish communities
The procession is organized by the parishes of Minervino Murge, within the Diocese of Andria, with the participation of local brotherhoods and the bearers who pass down the task of carrying the heavy processional structures from generation to generation. The accompaniment of the band and traditional chants mark the slow pace of the procession, creating an atmosphere of intense popular devotion.
A Holy Week rich in rituals
The Good Friday procession is the climax of a week packed with events. It begins with Palm Sunday and the Living Passion through the town streets; on Holy Monday, the characteristic "Fest d li viccir" is celebrated, the feast of the butchers' guild, with Mass and a Eucharistic procession from the Church of the Immaculate. This is followed by Holy Thursday with the Mass of the Lord's Supper, the washing of the feet, and visits to the altars of repose set up in the city parishes, and Holy Saturday with the "Hour of the Mother" at the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Sabato and the solemn Easter Vigil.
Faith, art, and Murgia identity
More than just a religious representation, the Procession of the Mysteries is a heritage of collective identity: it unites the sacred art of the statues—some made of Lecce papier-mâché or carved from wood—with the choral participation of an entire town. For those visiting the upper Murgia in spring, witnessing this procession means connecting with one of the most authentic and deeply felt traditions of inland Puglia.
Procession of the Mysteries — edition 2026
The procession of April 3, 2026
On Good Friday 2026, the procession of the Mysteries departed at 7:00 PM from Piazza Aldo Moro, winding along the streets of the historic center of Minervino Murge to Piazza Bovio. The eight statues depicting the scenes of the Passion and Death of Jesus, along with the relic of the Holy Wood, were carried on the shoulders of the brothers and accompanied by the band and traditional chants. The procession was the highlight of a Holy Week opened by Palm Sunday (March 29) and the Living Passion, and continued with the "Fest d li viccir" on Holy Monday, the rites of Holy Thursday with the visit to the altars of repose, and the following day, the "Hour of the Mother" on Holy Saturday.
Programme Procession of the Mysteries 2026
Good Friday - April 3, 2026
7:00 PM — Departure from Piazza Aldo Moro. The procession crosses the historic center to Piazza Bovio, returning late in the evening.
The eight statues of the Passion
- Penitential cross with the symbols of the Passion (opens the procession)
- Jesus in the Garden of Olives (Gethsemane), papier-mâché statue from the Lecce school
- Scourged Christ, from the church of San Michele
- Ecce Homo, from the church of the Immaculate
- Wooden crucifix, carved in Ortisei
- Jesus carrying the cross
- Calvary group, with 19th-century crucifix and statues from Ortisei
- The Pietà , from the church of San Michele
Together with the statues, the relic of the Holy Wood is carried in the procession. The cortège is accompanied by the brotherhoods, parish communities, and the town band.
Other Holy Week 2026 rites
- Palm Sunday (March 29): blessing of the palms in Piazza Bovio and Living Passion from Piazza Moro to Piazza Gramsci
- Holy Monday: "Fest d li viccir", butchers' feast, with Mass and Eucharistic procession from the parish of the Immaculate
- Holy Thursday: Mass of the Lord's Supper, washing of the feet, and visits to the altars of repose in the parishes
- Good Friday (afternoon): liturgy of the adoration of the Cross, before the evening procession
- Holy Saturday: "Hour of the Mother" at the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Sabato (8:30 AM) and Easter Vigil
Highlights Procession of the Mysteries 2026
Prices Procession of the Mysteries 2026
Practical information — Procession of the Mysteries
When
Every Good Friday, starting at 7:00 PM. In 2026, Good Friday falls on April 3rd.
Where
Historic center of Minervino Murge (BT). Departure from Piazza Aldo Moro, arrival at Piazza Bovio, passing through the main city streets.
How to get there
Minervino Murge can be reached by car via the SS93 and the provincial road between Andria and Spinazzola; the nearest train stations are those of the Ferrotramviaria and Ferrovie del Gargano networks. In the evening, it is recommended to park outside the historic center, which is closed to traffic during the procession.
Admission
Participation is free and open to all. Appropriate attire and a respectful attitude are requested during the passage of the procession.
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Where does it take place — Procession of the Mysteries
Centro storico (Piazza Aldo Moro - Piazza Bovio)