The Procession - Sacred Representation of the Passion of Christ

The Living Passion of Oppido Lucano

La Preggessione is the sacred representation of the Passion of Christ that takes place every Good Friday in Oppido Lucano, a town in the Province of Potenza. A tradition alive since 1979, organized by the Gruppo Recupero Tradizioni Locali (Local Traditions Recovery Group), which transforms the village into a large open-air stage every year.

One Hundred Eighty Actors Through the Village Streets

About 180 local actors bring to life the key scenes of Jesus' final days. The representation begins with the entrance into Jerusalem in the central Piazza Guglielmo Marconi and unfolds through the Last Supper, the trials before the Sanhedrin, Herod, and Pontius Pilate. Jesus, carrying the cross, then begins the Way of the Cross which winds through the streets of the historic center, up to the poignant scenes of the crucifixion and deposition, accompanied by music chosen to enhance the emotional impact of each tableau.

Faith, Theatre, and Community

More than just a re-enactment, La Preggessione is a collective ritual that involves entire generations of Oppido's residents and preserves a heritage of costumes, gestures, and words passed down for decades. For actors and spectators alike, it becomes a deeply participatory experience, intertwining the spirituality of Holy Week with the power of Lucanian popular theatre.