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Salento > Holy Week rites in Gallipoli
Holy Week rites in Gallipoli
They are among the oldest and most visceral in the entire Mediterranean area.
These are not simple representations, but moments of an almost magnetic devotion that stops the city from breathing.
Here are the most evocative passages and curiosities about these sacred days:
1. Friday of Our Lady of Sorrows (The Friday before Palm Sunday)
It all begins with the procession of Our Lady of Sorrows, organized by the Confraternity of Santa Maria della Purità.
The Evocation: The statue of the Virgin, dressed in black and pierced by a sword, slowly parades through the alleys. The most moving moment is the performance of the Sacred Oratory, an eighteenth-century choral song that resounds through the squares.
2. The Sepulchres (Holy Thursday)
After the "Mass in Coena Domini", the people of Gallipoli and tourists visit the "Sepolcri" (Altars of Reposition) in the churches of the historic centre.
Interesting fact: Churches are decorated with "Piatti del Sepolcro," wheat sprouts grown in the dark that create a delicate chromatic contrast between the white of the sprouts and the gold of the Baroque altars.
3. The Procession of the Mysteries (Good Friday)
It is the most somber and solemn moment, organized by the Confraternity of the Holy Crucifix.
The Brothers: The "brothers" parade, hooded with the red habit and the white hood, often barefoot as a penance.
The Statues: Heavy wooden statues representing the stages of the Passion are carried on the shoulders. Their steps are rhythmic, swaying, almost hypnotic.
The Sound: The silence of the crowd is broken only by the strident sound of the Trozzula (a wooden instrument with metal beaters) and the funeral marches of the town band.
4. The Procession of Mary Desolate (Holy Saturday)
At first light (around 3:00 or 4:00 in the morning), the last procession sets off from the church of San Francesco d'Assisi.
The Journey: The statue of the Desolate is carried towards the bastion and the sea. It is a moment of absolute silence, broken only by the lapping of the waves and the wind blowing against the walls.
The "Mal Ladrone": Before the procession, many visit the statue of the Mal Ladrone in the church of San Francesco, famous for its disturbing realism.
5. Easter Sunday: The Outbreak of the Caremma
As we have seen, the dramatic tension of Holy Week dissolves at midday on Sunday with the explosion of the Caremma Gallipoli.it, the Lenten puppet that explodes to announce the Resurrection.
Curiosities about the Brothers:
Did you know that the hood pulled down over the face served in ancient times to ensure anonymity in charity and penance? No one was supposed to know who was performing that sacrifice, whether nobleman or fisherman.
See allHere are the most evocative passages and curiosities about these sacred days:
1. Friday of Our Lady of Sorrows (The Friday before Palm Sunday)
It all begins with the procession of Our Lady of Sorrows, organized by the Confraternity of Santa Maria della Purità.
The Evocation: The statue of the Virgin, dressed in black and pierced by a sword, slowly parades through the alleys. The most moving moment is the performance of the Sacred Oratory, an eighteenth-century choral song that resounds through the squares.
2. The Sepulchres (Holy Thursday)
After the "Mass in Coena Domini", the people of Gallipoli and tourists visit the "Sepolcri" (Altars of Reposition) in the churches of the historic centre.
Interesting fact: Churches are decorated with "Piatti del Sepolcro," wheat sprouts grown in the dark that create a delicate chromatic contrast between the white of the sprouts and the gold of the Baroque altars.
3. The Procession of the Mysteries (Good Friday)
It is the most somber and solemn moment, organized by the Confraternity of the Holy Crucifix.
The Brothers: The "brothers" parade, hooded with the red habit and the white hood, often barefoot as a penance.
The Statues: Heavy wooden statues representing the stages of the Passion are carried on the shoulders. Their steps are rhythmic, swaying, almost hypnotic.
The Sound: The silence of the crowd is broken only by the strident sound of the Trozzula (a wooden instrument with metal beaters) and the funeral marches of the town band.
4. The Procession of Mary Desolate (Holy Saturday)
At first light (around 3:00 or 4:00 in the morning), the last procession sets off from the church of San Francesco d'Assisi.
The Journey: The statue of the Desolate is carried towards the bastion and the sea. It is a moment of absolute silence, broken only by the lapping of the waves and the wind blowing against the walls.
The "Mal Ladrone": Before the procession, many visit the statue of the Mal Ladrone in the church of San Francesco, famous for its disturbing realism.
5. Easter Sunday: The Outbreak of the Caremma
As we have seen, the dramatic tension of Holy Week dissolves at midday on Sunday with the explosion of the Caremma Gallipoli.it, the Lenten puppet that explodes to announce the Resurrection.
Curiosities about the Brothers:
Did you know that the hood pulled down over the face served in ancient times to ensure anonymity in charity and penance? No one was supposed to know who was performing that sacrifice, whether nobleman or fisherman.