Sorrento - Processioni - Tradizioni locali
During Holy Week in Sorrento one of the most famous traditions is that of the white and black processions that cross the streets of Sorrento and the Sorrento peninsula. These are very ancient rites, handed down for centuries, in which the hooded brothers parade in silence among soft lights, sacred songs and symbols of the Passion of Christ, creating a unique atmosphere between spirituality and popular tradition.
These processions, organized by the historic local brotherhoods, are not just religious events but real moments of identity of the area, also highly sought after by tourists and visitors who every year seek information on what to see in Sorrento during Holy Week.
The white procession, a symbol of adoration and meditation, recalls the penitential journey of the faithful between the churches, with the traditional visit to the Tombs and the singing of the Miserere that accompanies the entire journey. In this article, which will be constantly updated, we will talk about all the processions in Sorrento during Holy Week 2026.
Holy Monday Procession of the Sorrowful Mother
The procession of the Addolorata Madre of Sorrento is part of the traditions of Marina Grande, where the Church of S. Anna stands. The procession of the Sorrowful Mother starts from here, which takes place on Good Monday and opens the Easter events throughout the peninsula.
Dates and times of the Procession
The procession of the Addolorata Madre of Sorrento is the first procession of Holy Week in Sorrento and takes place on the evening of Holy Monday starting from Marina Grande.
It takes place on March 30th at 8pm with the gathering in the church, and after a short celebration the procession leaves from the Marina Grande crossing all the historic alleys of Sorrento.
Procession route
Start from: Chiesa Parrocchiale di S. Anna; Via del Mare, Via Fuoro.
Stop at: Chiesa dell’Annunziata; Vico III Fuoro, Via San Nicola, Via Accademia, Via Tasso, Piazza Vittorio Veneto, Via Marina Grande;
End at Chiesa Parrocchiale di S. Anna.
White Procession of Holy Thursday of the Rosary
The first White Procession, on Thursday, is organized by the Archconfraternity of the SS. Rosario, visiting the altars of the Reposition.
Over the years, the procession has undergone several changes: in the past the participants had their faces uncovered, in recent years the use of the white hood pulled over the face has been introduced, standardizing the aesthetics of the procession with that of the other two historic Good Friday parades in Sorrento.
Dates and times of the Procession
The procession starts from the Church of Santi Felice e Bacolo, headquarters of the Archconfraternity, and runs through the streets of the center of Sorrento.
It takes place on April 2nd, starting in the evening at 8.30pm from the Church of Santi Felice e Baccolo.
Procession route
Departure from the Church of Santi Felice e Bacolo; Via Tasso, Via San Cesareo, Piazza Tasso, Corso Italia, Largo Parsano Vecchio, Via del Mare, Via Fuoro, Vico III Fuoro, Via San Nicola, Via dell’Accademia, Via Tasso, Via Vittorio Veneto, Via San Francesco, Piazza Sant’Antonino, Via Luigi De Maio, Piazza Tasso, Corso Italia, Via Tasso.
Return to the Church of Saints Felice and Bacolo.
White Procession of Good Friday in Santa Monica
Then, on the night between Thursday and Friday, it is the turn of the White Procession, organised by the Venerable Archconfraternity of Santa Monica based in the ancient Church of the Santissima Annunziata.
The brothers of Santa Monica visit the Altars of the Reposition, carrying the statue of Our Lady of Sorrows.
The participants are all strictly hooded with the exception of the Miserere choristers
Dates and times of the Procession
The White Procession of Santa Monica is the only nocturnal procession of Holy Week in Sorrento. It takes place on the night of Good Friday, April 3rd, starting from the ancient Church of the Santissima Annunziata at 3:00 in the morning and crossing all the main streets and historic alleys of Sorrento.
Procession route
Departure from the Church of the Santissima Annunziata;
Via Fuoro, Vico II Fuoro, Corso Italia, Piazza Tasso, Via San Cesareo, Via Tasso, Via Vittorio Veneto, Via San Francesco, Piazza Sant’Antonino, Via Luigi De Maio, Piazza Tasso, Via Correale, Via Rota, Via Capasso, Corso Italia, Piazza Tasso, Corso Italia, Via Parsano Vecchio, Via del Mare, Via Fuoro.
Return to the Church of the Santissima Annunziata.
Processione Nera del Venerdì Santo del Cristo Morto
The Archconfraternity of Death, however, has a very ancient and particular history behind it.
Its foundation, it seems, dates back to 1380 when it bore the name of the Confraternity of San Catello and was then incorporated into that of the Archconfraternity of Death.
The ancient brotherhood of San Catello was based in what is now the refectory of the monastery of S. Maria delle Grazie.
With the opening of the current Corso Italia between 1863 and 1865, the church of San Catello was demolished to allow for the necessary urban planning changes.
The brotherhood then moved to the Church of the Servants of Mary which housed its congregation of the same name.
The Procession of the Dead Christ carries in procession a wonderful wooden statue depicting the Dead Christ, an object of great devotion of the Sorrento people.
The precious eighteenth-century simulacrum of Christ is preceded by the equally beautiful statue of Our Lady of Sorrows, finely dressed.
Dates and times of the Procession
On the evening of Good Friday, the Black procession of the Dead Christ of the Archconfraternity of Death takes place, departing from the ancient Church of the Servants of Mary at 8.30 pm.
Procession route
Departure from the Church of the Servants of Mary;
Via Sersale, Via Degli Aranci, Hospital, Corso Italia, Piazza Tasso, Corso Italia, Via Capasso, Via Correale, Piazza Tasso, Via San Cesareo, Via Tasso, Via Vittorio Veneto, Via San Francesco, Piazza Sant’Antonino, Via Luigi De Maio, Piazza Tasso, Corso Italia.
Return to the Church of the Servants of Mary.
