Via Crucis of Antignano

When Antignano becomes Jerusalem

On the evening of Good Friday, the streets of Antignano, a small town in the Monferrato area of Asti, dim their lights to glow with a different radiance: that of torches, period costumes, and a two-thousand-year-old story. The Via Crucis of Antignano is one of the most heartfelt and well-attended sacred performances in Piedmont, capable of transporting spectators back in time to the final hours of Jesus' life every year.

A choral performance

The secret of this event lies in its numbers and the spirit that drives it: around 150 performers—men, women, and children—bring the scenes of the Passion to life. They are supported by narrators, costume designers, set designers, lighting technicians, masons, and carpenters who work for weeks behind the scenes. These are not professional actors, but entire families from Antignano and the hamlets of Castiglione and Variglie, passing down roles and passion from generation to generation.

The path of the Passion

The scenic narrative unfolds in several tableaux, guiding the public through the village streets: starting from the Garden of Gethsemane with the arrest of Jesus, continuing with the trial before the Sanhedrin and Pontius Pilate, then the ascent to Mount Calvary, and finally the crucifixion and deposition in the main square. It is an emotional journey that draws the viewer into a collective experience of great intensity.

History and tradition

The Via Crucis of Antignano was born in the early nineties on the initiative of Franco Orecchia, who passed away in 2017, and whose legacy is now carried on by his son Roberto and grandson Lorenzo. The performance is organized through the collaboration of the Municipality of Antignano, the Parish of Santo Stefano, the Pro Loco, the Colline Alfieri Community, and the Diocese of Asti, with the support of the Province of Asti and the Piedmont Region. Interrupted only by the pandemic, it has resumed with renewed enthusiasm and has become a defining event for the entire territory.

Beyond Good Friday

Other initiatives related to the event's memory have developed around the performance, such as the photographic exhibition set up in the parish church of Santo Stefano, which traces the highlights of past editions from their origins to the present day.