Via Crucis of Pergusa

A tradition running through Pergusa since 1981

The Via Crucis of Pergusa is one of the most deeply felt sacred representations of the Holy Week in Enna. Established in 1981, it is renewed every year on Holy Wednesday in the village of Pergusa, in the municipality of Enna, in the heart of Sicily. The village, known worldwide for its historic racetrack overlooking the lake of the same name, becomes for one evening the natural stage for the Passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

From Piazza della Bonifica to the Golgotha of the racetrack

The sacred performance begins in Piazza della Bonifica, in front of the church of Pergusa, where most of the scenes from the life of Christ are staged. The procession of actors and extras then winds through the streets of the village to the Calvary set up behind the racetrack, where the crucifixion takes place. It is an itinerant path that involves the entire community and, in case of bad weather, includes an indoor version without sacrificing the emotional power of the story.

A community on stage

The event is promoted by the Confraternity of the Most Holy Crucifix of Pergusa and the local parish, with the patronage of the Municipality of Enna and the College of Rectors of the Confraternities. Each edition features dozens of performers, including actors and extras, coming not only from Pergusa and Enna but from various towns in the province and Sicily, from Gela to Licata, from Piazza Armerina to Niscemi. Alongside the actors, the historic group of resident volunteers ensures the continuity of a tradition passed down from generation to generation.

Faith, art, and a message of peace

The Via Crucis of Pergusa is much more than a procession: it is a scenic construction that places the community at the center and gives space to the female figures of the Gospel story, in a living narrative capable of renewing itself while remaining faithful to its roots. Every year, the performance sends a message of peace and hope, intertwining religious devotion, artistic commitment, and local identity. For the inhabitants of Pergusa and Enna, it is an unmissable appointment that attracts numerous spectators along the entire route.

In the calendar of the Holy Week in Enna

The event is included in the rich calendar of the Holy Week of Enna, which involves sixteen confraternities and the entire city with some of the most solemn processions and sacred rites in Sicily. The Via Crucis of Pergusa represents one of its most spectacular moments, thanks to the unique setting of the village and the landscape around Lake Pergusa.