Easter in Ravello. The Passion of Christ
I have seen several popular representations of the Way of the Cross, the Crucifixion of Christ staged by associations that prepare for this event for most of the year. In Southern Italy, it is a tradition that has been perpetuated since time immemorial. One of the most beautiful is undoubtedly the one that takes place every year in Ravello, the scenic village perched on the slopes of the Amalfi Coast, made famous by many figures, from Boccaccio to Wagner and Gore Vidal, and, in a far from complete list, the architect Oscar Niemeyer, to whom we owe the Auditorium that bears his name.
But for me, Ravello remains in my heart for its costumed Via Crucis, the renowned theatrical representation of Christ’s Passion that unfolds through the streets of the historic center. More than 300 actors and extras take part, practically the entire town, who, as one, transform into technicians, seamstresses, blacksmiths, carpenters, and set designers, dedicating their time, passion, and expertise to setting up the scenic displays along the streets of the historic center.
A mystical silence envelops the entire “City of Music,” as Ravello is known worldwide. Signs, street markers, and shop windows are carefully concealed, public streetlights and household lights are dimmed, while the alleys and squares are illuminated solely by the glow of torches and filled with the chants of the “Battenti di Minori,” the “Choristers of Sorrento,” and the prayers of the faithful.
Ravello travels back about two thousand years, with the path illuminated only by the flickering flames of torches placed at street corners and on walls steeped in history.
Even as a privileged witness, positioned at the front with my camera, following, or rather, preceding the figure of Jesus throughout the evening, I could not help but be emotionally moved by the tragic and sorrowful atmosphere of an innocent man condemned to death for his beliefs. It is an experience I highly recommend to anyone in the area during Easter.
This event was born in the 1970s, when the theater group “La Ribalta” and the entire population of Ravello felt the need to stage the Passion of Christ during the Easter period, in the magical medieval alleys, which closely resemble the sacred places that witnessed Christ’s final days.
What follows are the photos, at least a part of them, of that unforgettable evening.
