Representation of the Passion of Christ
The Sacred Representation of the Passion of Christ in Francavilla di Sicilia boasts a history of over a hundred years.
It was 1790 when Father Silvestro organized the Via Crucis with living characters and all the roles were played by children.
Later, Father Gaetano Calabrese in 1865 wanted to involve hundreds of faithful giving life to the "Sacred Representation of Good Friday", as it has been handed down to us.
This event, held only periodically, involved over 500 participants, all strictly with costumes of the time.
The various scenes of the Passion of Christ from the Entrance of the Palms to the Crucifixion, paraded on foot or on carts with a procession along the town center.
The Representation took place in the years 1790, 1865, 1874, 1886, 1892, 1901, 1908, 1915, 1922, 1931, 1937, 1938, 1957, 1962, 1985, 1987, 1990, 2000, 2002.
The editions of the late 19th century and early 20th century were promoted and directed by Cav. Carmelo Orsina.
In 1985, the mayor Salvatore Puglisi strongly wanted to revive this ancient tradition that always remained in the hearts of the Francavillans, which was carried out with the same methods until 2002.
We had to wait until 2014, the year in which, thanks to the passion and dedication of some volunteers, the event was resumed with a renewed formula.
Despite the difficulties related to the reduction of human, economic and logistical resources, it was possible to transform the event by adapting it to new needs while keeping its essence intact over time.
The ancient village of Francavilla di Sicilia has thus become a natural theater that welcomes the scenes of the passion no longer static and silent but dynamic and recited, thus transforming many of the participants into "actors", always maintaining high the emotion and pathos that this event has always aroused in the hearts of both participants and spectators.
And it is this formula that the Sacred Representation is proposed again in 2015, 2017, 2019, 2023, 2024.
From 2017 Palm Sunday is moved and in 2023 the Association "a Passioni" is established.
