Holy Week and Easter in Ispica

Red and blue, the colors of the cavari and nunciatari brotherhoods, take us to ispica, in the Free Municipal Consortium of Ragusa, at the height of Holy Week, to celebrate the rite of Easter in Ispica: the confraternities of Santa Maria Maggiore and Santissima Annunziata organize, like every year, the Easter party, to which all local faithful and tourists who are in Sicily during the Easter holidays are invited.
A great tradition, the Easter one, on the island: between representations, traditional sweets and unique atmospheres, the last moments of Christ's life, the Crucifixion and the Resurrection, return every year on the canonical days of Palm Sunday, Thursday and Good Friday and Easter. In particular, the Ispica event earned the Unesco recognition, as an intangible heritage of the island.
This legacy manifests itself in Way of the cross which begins at night, while the young people of Ispica stage the stages of the Christ's passion: Holy thursday it begins like this in Church, between music and prayer. Then the statues of Christ at the Column (which also has an important role in the celebration in Church) meet with that of the Immaculate Conception.
Il Good Friday, in addition to following the Procession, the faithful turn with prayers to Christ with the Cross, bringing him votive offerings to thank him for his intercession. There Easter Sundayfinally, the simulacrum of the Risen Christ comes out of the Basilica of the Santissima Annunziata and leads the faithful in Procession through the main streets of Ispica.

The history of the Easter Festival in Ispica

The Easter Festival in Ispica is the religious festival most loved by the inhabitants of the town, who take part in the celebrations in large numbers.
In particular, the festival is organized by the Confraternity of Santa Maria Maggiore and the Confraternity of the Santissima Annunziata. The brotherhoods of Ispica, ancient and dating back to the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries, are deeply linked to the history of the city: if in the past they dealt with charitable works, but also with important administrative tasks, today the brothers dedicate themselves to the organization of the Easter Festival, keeping alive the oldest traditions of Ispica.

When Easter takes place in Ispica

The Easter Festival in Ispica takes place during Holy Week.

Where Easter takes place in Ispica

The main places of Easter celebrations in Ispica are the Church of Santa Maria della Cava, the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, Corso Garibaldi and the Mother Church of San Bartolomeo.

What to do during Easter in Ispica

Those who want to participate in the Easter Festival in Ispica can organize a holiday during Holy Week, thus having the opportunity to take part in all the most important events, such as the Processions, the adoration of Christ at the Column and the solemn Masses. This week of celebration is characterized by the great devotion of the faithful, with whom it will be possible to join in prayer, but also in learning about the city, for example by getting advice on the best restaurants in which to taste pasta with sardines, mixed fried food or aubergine caponata , among the tastiest dishes of the local culinary tradition.
Furthermore, in Ispica you can visit all the places of the Easter Festival, the Churches involved in the celebrations, but also other sacred buildings such as that of the Our Lady of Mount Carmel, or beautiful buildings like those ofHonorable Bruno di Belmonte, made in Liberty style, elegant and refined.
In Piazza Unità d'Italia, another destination not to be missed during a stay in the city, you will find the Palace of Cavalier Antonio Bruno, with the beautiful one Sinatra's lodge overlooking the square. In Corso Garibaldi, where the Easter Procession also passes, you can consult the Municipal Library, while in Corso Umberto there is the building offormer Market.
Leaving Ispica, you will encounter the Force Park, archaeological site near which there are also the remains of the ancient Castle, which however was not spared by the earthquake of 1693 and the Ispica quarry, where the remains of a rock village were found, which is thought to have been populated until the nineteenth century.

How is it possible to get to Ispica for Easter

Ispica, in the Free Municipal Consortium of Ragusa, can be reached by car from the A18 Messina-Catania, via the two exits for Rosolini (about 5 km away) and Noto (19 km away), while those traveling on the train, can reach the center thanks to the bus and shuttle connection with Ragusa station (21 km away).