Easter in Collesano – 'A Cerca

Collesano is a municipality populated by almost 4 thousand people and is located in the Metropolitan City of Palermo: here the community of the faithful gathers on the occasion of the Holy Week, to celebrate the Easter in Collesano according to the rites of an ancient tradition. The highlight of this great and highly anticipated religious event is called 'A Search and it is the Procession of the faithful who retrace the 14 stations of the Way of the cross, playing several roles in a kind of great sacred play, or historical re-enactment. The members of the confraternities who organize the procession wear a particular white tunic and wear brown sandals, their faces are covered by a hood and a crown of thorns; in the Procession we can recognize the figures of Christ, of the Roman soldiers who lead him to the Cross and of the pious women.

Another important moment during Easter in Collesano is what happens at the Church of Santa Maria La Vecchia, where every year different episodes from the life of Jesus are staged in the churchyard, represented with the help of large statues created for the occasion.

The history of Easter in Collesano

The origins of Easter in Collesano are very ancient and have their roots in the seventeenth century. Even then, just as it happens today, this great religious event was organized by the Confraternity of the Holy Crucifix and took place at dawn, which is why it is tradition in Collesano, the Good Friday, get up very early and reach the starting point of the Procession (Fence), located in the Church of Santa Maria La Vecchia. Another tradition linked to this Feast, although of pagan origins, is that of decorate the places of the Via Crucis with wheat and cereals sprouted in the dark, characterized by a yellow color and called laurieddi, but also with oranges and fennel, all fruits of the earth and ancient symbols of the peasant tradition, which have become part of the symbolism of this Christian festival.

When Easter takes place in Collesano

The Easter Festival in Collesano takes place at the height of the Holy Week celebrations and the highlights of this celebration are the Good Friday , Easter Sunday.

Where Easter takes place in Collesano

Easter takes place in the village of Collesano precisely, at the Church of Santa Maria La Vecchia, which is located near the ruins of the Castle of Collesano.

What to do during Easter in Collesano

Spending the Easter holidays in Collesano will give you the opportunity to discover an ancient tradition born in the seventeenth century and still vital today, with the possibility of attending sacred representations with different themes every year and of participating in the Procession of the Confraternity of the Most Holy Crucifix, which takes place at dawn.

At the end of the Procession, you will be able to discover all the beauties of the town, starting from the Church of Santa Maria La Vecchia, built in the XII century near the plain of Castle; a few meters away, therefore, you will find the ruins of the fort, thus completing the visit to the oldest monuments of Collesano. Of course, there are many other attractions in the village, such as the Madonna and Child, a XNUMXth century work by Gagini and kept in the Church of Santa Maria La Vecchia or the Mother Church of Collesano, a XNUMXth-century building where we recommend especially admiring the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament.

Among the other churches in Collesano, stop at the Church of the New Annunziata , Church of Santa Maria di Gesù, where you can admire works by Gaspare Vazzano (lo Zoppo di Gangi) and Fra' Umile da Petralia. In the village you will also find the Watchtower, Fatta-Del Bosco Palace and Town Hall, among the most beautiful civil monuments to visit, while in the surroundings do not miss the medieval site of Monte Oro.

How it is possible to arrive at Easter in Collesano

Collesano is located in the Metropolitan City of Palermo and can be easily reached from the capital in the car, via the A19 Palermo-Catania, taking the exit for Scillato, which is located about 8 km from the town; who comes instead on the train, can get off at Cefalù station, which is 14 km from Collesano and is connected to the center thanks to the bus and shuttle service.