Easter in Caltagirone 'A Giunta

Easter in Caltagirone, in the Metropolitan City of Catania, is a celebration to be discovered. In the month of April, Caltagirone is celebrated 'to Giunta, a spectacular tradition that every year brings Jesus and the Apostles back to life Holy Week.

'To Giunta it is the most important moment of the whole Festival: it takes place on Sunday, when i paper mache giants with the features of St. Peter and Jesus meet, to unite in the search for Mary, to whom communicate the news of the Resurrection. In the end, the Madonna bows her head three times in front of Jesus and the faithful who assist celebrate with joy. The three statues meet in Piazza Municipio, and then take three different paths, starting from the Church of San Pietro.

The history of the Easter Festival in Caltagirone

Easter in Caltagirone is a big event in the village, organized by real artists in collaboration with the LA SCALA Theater Association, under the patronage of the Municipality of Caltagirone and the Sicilian Region. Even the Parish of Sant'Anna takes part in the organization of the Easter Festival.

By now since 1998, Easter in Caltagirone is synonymous with 'a Giunta.

When does the Easter Festival take place in Caltagirone

The Easter Festival in Caltagirone takes place every year during the Holy Week and in particular the Giunta takes place on Easter Sunday.

Where the Easter Festival takes place in Caltagirone

Easter in Caltagirone takes place in the historic centre, between the Church of St. Peter e Piazza Municipio.

What to do during Easter in Caltagirone

If you spend the Easter holidays in Caltagirone, take the opportunity to breathe in all the atmospheres that the town offers during this period: attend the theatrical event and other events of the Holy Week in Caltagirone, such as the re-enactment of the Passion or the Visit to the Sepulchres, to then gather in prayer with the local faithful.

In Caltagirone, however, you will also spend other exciting moments, in search of all the beauties of the historic centre, such as the Duomo or the Church of the Lord of Help, the Church of Sant'Agata but also the beautiful Monumental Cemetery and the Abbey of Terrana, which is located just outside the town. The symbol of the town is instead the Caltagirone Staircase, one of the first places that tourists love to visit in the centre.

In the town you will find many other sacred buildings, in the various hamlets of the municipality, such as the Church of San Giovanni Battista in Granieri or the Church of San Paolo Apostolo in Piano San Paolo.

Among the monuments in the centre, we point out some historic buildings and interesting constructions, such as Villa Vittorio Emanuele and Caltagirone Station, but also the Politeama and the Bourbon Prison, the Staircase of Santa Maria del Monte and the Acquanova Fountain. There are many attractions in Caltagirone, all to be discovered by walking through the historic center, without forgetting the stops at Nativity scene museum and Museum of Ceramics.

Even the surroundings of Caltagirone, however, will surprise you with historical sites and natural beauties not to be missed, starting from Castle of the Geniuses, up to the excavations of Sant'Ippolito and the archaeological site of Monte San Mauro.

Nature welcomes you in the greenery of the Bosco di Santo Pietro Nature Reserve, the lung of south-eastern Sicily.

In Caltagirone, you can also taste all the delicacies of Sicilian cuisine, such as maccu di fave, muffulette with fennel seeds, murata meat and, of course, all the traditional desserts, especially those of the Easter period such as panareddi.

How to get to the Easter Festival in Caltagirone

Caltagirone, in the Metropolitan City of Catania, is a large center in eastern Sicily, populated by over 35.000 people and easily accessible both by car and by train.

By car:, on the A19 Palermo-Catania, you will find the junction for Piazza Armerina, while on the train, getting off at Ragusa station about 40 km from the town, you will find buses and shuttles ready to take you to the centre.