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24 Aprile 2017 0

Among the most impressive and ancient manifestations which take place in the Sorrentine Peninsule, have emerged and become popular the traditional processions of the Holy Friday both for their character of deep religious compassion and for their extraordinary local folklore. From the sunset of the Holy Thursday to the Holy Friday night which precede Easter, there are about 15 processions that wind among the streets of all the towns of the Sorrentine Peninsule from Vico Equense to Massa Lubrense to recall the mystery of the Passion and Death of Christ. Besides the various differences between each other, especially in the disposition of the participants and the colour of the gowns, which are mainly white and black, these processions are all characterized by the presence of some common elements such as the hood which covers the face, the torchlights, the lanterns and the “tortures”, the holy images such as Our Lady of Sorrows, Christ in his agony, crucified and then put down from the cross, the choice of the funeral music, the solid partecipation of the choir with various voices, masculine, feminine and mixed, sometimes very impressive who performe the traditional songs of the Passion of Christ and and mainly the “Miserere” of Davide.

Very famous for many years all over the world are the two processions of Sorrento, which many consider at the second place only after the processions pf Siviglia, both for their solemnity and for the great emotion they emit as they pass by. Born in the 16th century or maybe before, as a penitence and expiation rite which included also an auto flagellation, they have been improved and enriched over the years mostly concerning the choreographic aspect during the influence of the Spanish domination, reaching already in the 16th century their complete and actual splendor. The so called “White Procession” arranged by the Venerabile Arciconfraternita di S. Monica situated in the Tempio of the SS. Annunziata, winds through the roads of the Centro Storico from 03.00 a.m. to 06.00 a.m. of the Holy Friday and represents according to the tradition the wandering of the Virgin Mother in search of her Son, betrayed, arrested and sentenced to die on the cross. Late in the evening of the Holy Friday, takes place the “Black Procession” arranged by the Arciconfraternita della Morte e Orazione situated in the Church of the Servi of Maria. This procession is the transport of Christ dead, a splendid wooden sculpture of an unknown artist of the 17th century, followed by Our Lady of Sorrows. The great silence and the almost complete darkness which surround the city, the flickering of the torches, the pining and distant eco of Chopin’s music, the powerful voice of the choir of over 200 masculine voices create an atmosphere both sad and triumphal provoking in who assists this event a unique and unrepeatable emotion that only these superb Sorrentine representations evoke and where the authentic values of faith, the ancient traditions of the fathers jealously kept and passed on to the sons and the sacral value of the Death are exalted.


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Sorrento

24 Aprile 2016 0

Sorrento is on a tuff rock over the sea and dominates the horizon. On the top of the rock, the green shadows of vegetation mix with the colours of the town of Sorrento. For ancient people, Sorrento and Sorrento Coast were the land of mythical creatures, called mermaids. Maybe the name of the town, Sorrento, comes from the word “sirenide”.

The indented coast is made of hidden creeks rocks beaches and this landscape frightened mariners in the past. Today these variegated coast is the resource of Sorrento because tourists love it. From Sorrento you can admire the isle of Capri, Ischia and the whole Gulf of Naples.

The ancient part of the town still keeps its most ancient features and the Roman sign; there are still the walls built in 1500. Among the most interesting treasures of Sorrento, there is Piazza Tasso, the cathedral (of XV century), the church dedicated to Saint Francis of Assisi (with a beautiful XIV century cloister with Arabian features); Correale Museum, with its Greek and Roman objects, porcelains from Capodimonte, paintings.

The small and picturesque village of anglers in Marina Grande surely deserves a visit. Sorrento is famous all over the world thanks to the popular song Torna a Surriento and Italian and foreign tourists do love it. Gastronomy is a great resource, thanks to the presence of typical restaurants and pizzerias, to typical products, such as limoncello, cheeses, pasta, and much more. Salami are delicious and are seasoned with orange peel. If you like wines, you should visit the local producers, where you will taste quality and tasty wines.