Trapani (gro) The passion of Christ as the central mystery of the Christian faith -nowhere is the sso impressively celebrated and celebrated as during the pre-Easter Holy Week in the far west of Sicily, in Trapani. While in the harbor the most beautiful tall ships with vacation guests land, in the historic center of the medieval baroque city after a strict ritual for hours 20 groups of figures are carried through the streets, partly by hooded porters. The largest procession is on Good Friday. Throughout the “Semana Santa”, the holy week between Palm Sunday and Easter, there are other religious spectacles, another large processions with somber musical accompaniment are on Holy Saturday.All the more happily celebrated Easter, with communal feasts in public squares and picnics in the parks and by the sea.
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Flower fragrance fills the Sicilian air
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Trapani and neighboring Marsala are the most famous venues for the pre-Easter mystery plays. But Semana Santa is celebrated throughout Sicily. Picturesque processions also pass through the streets of Palermo, Messina, Catania and Syracuse at the end of Holy Week, going from place of worship to place of worship
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. Also in villages and small towns like Cefalù, St. Agata or Monreale, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter days are highlights of the ecclesiastical year, celebrated with passion and dignity.
Incidentally, it is no wonder that vacation apartments and hotels are well booked at this time of year. April and May are the most beautiful months for vacations in Sicily.
The blossoms are overwhelming, the air filled with the scent of jasmine, rosemary and thyme, the most beautiful ships are waiting in the harbor and the beaches are not yet crowded even at the end of May, when the bathing water has reached pleasant temperatures.
Walk of the Cross as a rather serene pilgrimage
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Those who want to be inconspicuously initiated into the Einhemian rituals should mingle with the locals late on Maundy Thursday night and, like them, move from church to church, all of which are open until early morning, for “Perpetual Adoration” the night before Jesus’ crucifixion.
In between visits to the churches, one fortifies oneself with an espresso or two in one of the numerous bars that make the Way of the Cross, for all its contemplation, at least at times, a rather cheerful pilgrimage.