A Truly Spiritual Time In Italy
Italy is a wonderful place to visit anytime of the year but there are certain times when the fiestas and different events really do make your visit worthwhile and no more so than at Easter time when the Settimana Santa or Holy Week as it is also known is celebrated with all sorts of processions and is a wonderful event to be part of. The many churches throughout Italy will hold their own special services through Holy Week with many churches decorated beautifully for this very special time. Obviously you will not be able to visit every procession in every town but no matter which town you do choose to spend time in you can be sure that it will be a thoroughly enjoyable event.
A particularly large procession that is well worth a trip to see is the one held in Enna in Sicily on Good Friday in which you will see over 2,000 friars all dressed up in ancient costumes walking through the streets. With some of these procession lasting 24 hours you will need to pace yourself if you want to spend as much time as you can drinking in the atmosphere.
In the Abruzzo region at a place called Chieti you will find what is believed to be the oldest Good Friday procession, you cannot help but be moved at the sound of Selecchi's Miserere played by a 100 violins. For one of the most popular and of course the biggest Easter mass of all you have to visit St. Peter's Basilica which of course is held by the Pope, this is a very moving service and is accompanied by a huge cross with burning lights can be seen lighting up the sky. Food also is a huge part of the celebrations and the aromas of lamb and goat can be found across different regions with special Easter breads and artichokes also proving quite popular. Dove shaped breads as well as hollow chocolate eggs with a surprise inside are also usually given out at this time of year.
Also in the Abruzzo region you will find people dress in the colours of peace, hope and resurrection which are white and green and they gather in the main piazza. There is normally the Virgin Mary, dressed all in black and as she is moving towards the fountain there are doves released with music and feasting following throughout the day and night.
Easter is a very special time in Italy and quite rightly so, but you will never find a country that celebrates more the true meaning of this time of year, with many countries in the world today focusing on the giving of chocolate eggs and Easter bunnies, the Italians really do celebrate exactly what this wonderful time of year is all about and to be a part of these fiestas and traditions is a truly special feeling. Whether you want to be at the bigger and more popular celebrations or whether you prefer the more intimate traditional celebrations of the smaller towns and cities you will certainly feel truly blessed at the experience.