The Easter period is probably the best to visit Sicily. The climate is mild and the countryside is full colored flowers. Also, during the Holy Week, in the sicilian towns, revive very ancient and pituresque traditions. Every town has its own tradition: religious re-enactments, processions with religious symbols, ritual prayers. A lot of tourists visit Sicily to see the Easter traditions.
The only downside is the high number of visitors and consequently full booked hotels and plenty of visitors at the main monuments.
Here is a small list of some of the most famous sicilian Easter traditions. It is always worth to get a visit
info: www.settimanasantacaltanissetta.it (only in italian language)
Archi di Pasqua in San Biagio Platani (Agrigento): this tradition dates back to the eighteenth century and is an artistic competition between to religious brotherhoods of San Biagio. The highlight is at the end of the Holy Week, Saturday evening. Each brotherhood decorates a part of the town with huge artistic arches. These arches are realized using reeds, willow, cereals, dates and bread. Every detail of the arches is a deep religious symbol.
info: www.prolocosanbiagioplatani.it - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Pro Loco San Biagio Platani - Tel./Fax +39 0922.910605
Processione dei Misteri in Trapani: this tradition dates back to the spanish domain in Sicily. The Procession of Mysteries in Trapani begins at 2 pm of Good Friday and lasts almost 24 consecutive hours. The procession is composed by 18 statues group and by te statues of the Dead Christ and Our Lady of Sorrows. The "massari" take the statues on their shoulder following the rythm of the musical band.
info: www.settimanasantatp.net
La Processione degli incappucciati ad Enna: the procession of the hoodeds is the most important yearly event in Enna. Thousands of tourists follow this procession. Events succeed during the whole Holy Week but the most impressive events is sure the procession on Good Friday. It's a torchlight procession where over 2500 hooded members of religious brotherhoods partecipate. Every brotherhood has different colours and the procession is very impressive. The statues of the Dead Christ and Our Lady of Sorrows are transported at the rythm of a funeral march.
The Devils Dance in Prizzi (Palermo): the "Ballo dei Diavoli" dates back to an ancient pagan tradition maintained by the Christian religion. It remembers the eternal struggle between good and evil. During the morning of the Easter day, the Dead, with a yellow cloth and two devils with red clothes walk through the town. This noisy group stops people and symbolically captures their souls. During the afternoon the devils attempt to prevent the meeting between the statues of Jesus and the Madonna. But when the two statues meet, the devils are driven away by the angels while the musical band plays happy songs.
info: www.prolocohippanaprizzi.it
Pro Loco Prizzi - Tel. +39 091 8346901
Photo credits: m4_m1c4/Flickr (Archi di San Biagio); !paco!/Flickr (Settimana Santa ad Enna); Comune di Prizzi (Ballo dei Diavoli)
