Sacred Representation of the Passion of Christ

A living Passion through the alleys of Terracina

The Sacred Representation of the Passion of Christ is one of the most intense religious and theatrical events in the province of Latina. In the period leading up to Easter, the upper historic center of Terracina transforms into an open-air stage: a hundred costumed performers reenact the final hours of Jesus' life, from the betrayal of Judas Iscariot to the Resurrection, in an itinerant journey that involves the city's squares, alleys, and monuments.

Origins and the Amici dell'Arte Association

The event was born in 2017 thanks to the vision of Giuseppe Norcia and Romano Sciscione and is organized by the Amici dell'Arte ODV Association, a group founded in 2012 by parents passionate about passing on their love for art in all its forms to their children. Edition after edition, the performance has grown in scenic quality and participation—with the only interruptions being in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic—becoming one of the defining events of Holy Week in southern Lazio.

The route and the scenes

The show begins in the evening at the Church of Purgatorio and unfolds across a dozen scenic tableaux set up in various locations throughout the historic center. The narrative faithfully follows the Gospel:

• the betrayal of Judas Iscariot and the Last Supper;
• the prayer and arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane;
• the house of Annas and the trials of Jesus, staged in Piazza Municipio;
• Pilate's praetorium and the condemnation;
• the Via Crucis through the alleys of the upper town;
• the Crucifixion and the Resurrection.

A large screen set up in Piazza Municipio allows the audience to follow the scenes taking place in the more intimate areas of the route in real-time.

The crucifixion at the Roman Theatre

The seventh edition, held on April 12, 2025, as a special Jubilee event, marked a scenographic turning point: the final scenes of the crucifixion and resurrection were set for the first time in the Roman Theatre of Terracina, one of the city's iconic monuments, returned to the public after decades of excavations. The Jubilee edition was granted the official logo of the 2025 Jubilee by the Dicastery for Evangelization of the Holy See and was broadcast live on Lazio TV.

Europassione and recognition

The Terracina performance has joined Europassione per l'Italia, the national association that brings together the most important sacred Passion representations and aims for UNESCO recognition as intangible cultural heritage. Poste Italiane has dedicated special philatelic cancellations and commemorative postcards to the event in multiple editions, confirming the significance the event has achieved.

The 2026 edition and the future

The eighth edition, scheduled for March 28, 2026, was cancelled by the Amici dell'Arte Association due to insurmountable organizational difficulties beyond the association's control. However, President Pino Norcia has assured that the project is not abandoned and that work is already underway to bring the Passion back to the streets of Terracina the following year, with the support of the Municipality of Terracina and the Lazio Region, which have supported the event's growth among the great rites of the Latium Easter tradition over the years.