La Holy Week in Taranto begins on Palm Sunday, after the usual liturgical celebrations. It is on this day that, to remember Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, the two confraternities that animate these rites meet. These are the Confraternity of Our Lady of Sorrows and the Confraternity of Mount Carmel. At the center of the main activities are the assignment operations, to one or the other confraternity, of the statues to be carried in procession, for which an auction is held the proceeds of which are then destined for charitable activities throughout the year. Procession Taranto.
Holy Week Procession Taranto
Processione Perdoni Taranto
A dare il via ufficiale alla Holy Week in Taranto è l’uscita dei Perdoni intorno alle ore 15, confratelli che in coppia girano per le maggiori chiese della città per visitare i cosiddetti sepolcri, a piedi nudi e in abito tradizionale. Tradizione vuole che i Perdoni simboleggino la figura del pellegrino in cammino verso Roma. Una volta che i Perdoni avranno terminato il loro percorso, con movimenti lenti, pesanti e dondolanti, la popolazione si prepara alla processione dell’Addolorata.
Sorrowful Procession Taranto
The Sorrowful Procession of Taranto traditionally starts from the Church of San Domenico Maggiore at midnight between Holy Thursday and Good Friday. Leading the crowd is the statue of the Sorrowful Madonna, accompanied by pairs of bearers (the Perdoni), various other traditional figures, and mournful music. The Sorrowful Procession, which evokes the desperate search by the Madonna for her son Jesus, continues until the afternoon of Good Friday when, around 5 p.m., everything is ready also at the Church of Carmine for the Procession of the Mysteries.
