Squinzano Living Passion

A theatre that meets faith at Masseria Provenzani

The Squinzano Living Passion is a sacred theatrical production that stages the final moments of Jesus Christ's life, from the Last Supper to the Crucifixion and Resurrection. Launched in 2023, the event takes place annually during Holy Week at Masseria Provenzani, located along the state road connecting Trepuzzi to Casalabate, approximately three kilometers from the historic Abbey of Santa Maria a Cerrate. The farm's rural and agricultural setting serves as the natural stage for a narrative where theatre and popular devotion merge into a single, immersive experience.

A guided journey through the scenes of the Passion

The performance, lasting about an hour, is not a simple procession but a guided journey: the audience enters in groups of forty people every forty-five minutes, moving through various stations set up across the farm's grounds. The scenes retrace the betrayal of Judas, the Last Supper, the agony in the Garden of Olives, the trial before Pilate, the scourging, the climb to Calvary, the Crucifixion, the Pietà, and the Resurrection, following the Gospel narrative reinterpreted according to the theme chosen for each edition.

A grand choral work

Behind the event lies the work of over eighty participants, including actors, extras, costume designers, makeup artists, and technicians. The event is promoted by the San Nicola di Myra and Mater Domini Parishes of Squinzano, led by Father Alessandro Scevola, in collaboration with the Don Tonino Bello Oratory and the Ghefiura Theatre Company, which oversees the artistic direction. The farm is made available by the R.I. group, demonstrating a strong collaboration between the parish community and the local area.

Squinzano and Northern Salento

Located in Northern Salento, in the province of Lecce, the town of Squinzano is known for its band tradition and its Squinzano DOC wine. In just a few years, the Living Passion has established itself as one of the most heartfelt Holy Week events in the region, attracting spectators from across Northern Salento. The setting of Masseria Provenzani, nestled in the Salento countryside and close to the Abbey of Cerrate, adds a landscape and spiritual value that makes it a unique experience in Puglia.