Devotion, tradition, folklore: these are the elements that characterize the Holy Week 2018 in Palermo, a period that begins with Palm Sunday and ends at Easter. A week that, specifically in the Sicilian capital, is made even more special by four processions.
- Confraternita dei “Cocchieri”. A very old brotherhood, whose foundation dates back to XVI century. During HOly Friday, the brothers carry the “vara” (a big “votive machine”) of the dead Christ and the statue of Our Lady. The procession begins in the district of Kalsa and is accompanied by persons in period costumes.
- Confraternita di Maria Santissima Addolorata. The headquarters is located in the church of Sant’Isidoro, in Albergheria district. On Holy Friday, this confraternity organizes what is considered one of the most beautiful processions that take place in Palermo. Starting from the headquarters of the confraternity, faithful and figures in Roman armour accompany the dead Christ and the statue of Our Lady through the streets of the city. The procession ends at night with a ritual that involves all the participants.
- Parrocchia di San Nicola da Tolentino. This parish is located in Via Maqueda. The “protagonist” of the procession is the Blessed Virgin of Soledad, whose statue, together with the wooden sculpture of the dead Christ, is carried by the faithful through the streets of the city.
- Processione dei Cassari. It is organized by the Confraternita di Maria Santissima Addolorata, a confraternity that was founded in the mid-Eighteenth century by the servants and cooks of the Palermo nobility. The brothers bring the statue of the Madonna from their headquarters (the church of Santa Maria del Lume ai Cassari) to Teatro Massimo (the main theatre of the city).
These four processions make the Holy Week of Palermo an unmissable moment to discover the traditions of the Sicilian capital. A moment that you can live by booking a ferry trip to Sicily.
Image source: Flickr.com/photos/atrogu
