The rites of Holy week
The rites of the Holy Week in Iglesias are strongly steeped in the Iberian tradition and are among the most suggestive in Sardinia.
Strongly followed by all citizens, the religious event is managed by the Arciconfraternita della Vergine della Pietà del Santo Monte which origins can be tracked to the sixteenth century
The four processions take place from Tuesday to Friday before Easter. The mood is hypnotic as the city mourns in a solemn background
Holy Tuesday: Procession “dei misteri”
The first procession, called “dei misteri”, is composed of seven statues representing Christ in the Getsemani, the capture, the scourging, Ecce Homo, ascent to calvary, the Crucifixion and last Our Lady of Sorrows. The cross of the Archconfraternity lead this procession.
The young baballottis carry the simulacrums on their shoulders; the first one is very heavy and the several days are necessary for its preparation. The Baballottis are the protagonists of the Holy Week: white, hooded, faceless and timeless. Their name derives from a small insect while their penitential costume is reminiscent of that of the ancient Disciplinanti, or Batus in Spanish.
Itinerary
From the Church of San Michele: Vie Pullo, della Zecca, Piazza Manzoni, vie Angioy, Amsicora, Rolfi, Piazza Municipio, Cathedral (for a stop, preaching the Passion), vico Duomo, Piazza Pichi, via Sarcidano, Martini, Azuni, Musio, Cagliari , Piazza Lamarmora, via Cavour, Cannavera, Cavallotti, Eleonora, Piazza Sella, Corso Matteotti, via Cavour, Manno, Piazza Collegio, via Repubblica, D. Minzoni, San Francesco Church for a stop (preach of the Addolorata), via D. Minzoni, Satta, Pullo, Church of San Michele.
Departure at 19.00.
Maundy Thursday: The Addolorata procession
It is one of the most important days for all Christianity. The Last Supper is commemorated, the institution of the Eucharist, the priesthood and the beginning of the Passion of Jesus.
Two masses mark the time of this long day: in the morning the Chrism mass and in the evening the Coena Domini mass. Then, in all the churches, the bells are tied (the knots will be unravelled during the Easter vigil of Holy Saturday). Veils, rugs, flowers and candles decorates the churches along with "Su Nenniri": little vases in which wheat and lentils are sown at the beginning of Lent. They will grow in a perfect darkness that produce a yellowish-white foliage.
Late in the evening, from the Oratorio del santo Monte, the San Michele Church near the Cathedral, the procession of the Addolorata moves on following the most genuine popular creed, it would represent Our Lady in search of her son. The procession stops at every church in the old town while children play the matraccas. The deafening noise of the matraccas and drums characterize the first part of the procession while the last part is characterized by an equally intrusive silence.
Itinerary
From the Church of San Michele:
Via Pullo, della Zecca, Piazza Manzoni, via Angioy, Amsicora, Rolfi, Piazza Municipio, vico Duomo, Piazza Pichi, via Sarcidano, Martini, Azuni, Musio, Cagliari, Piazza Lamarmora, via Cavour, Cannavera, Cavallotti, Eleonora, Piazza Sella , Corso Matteotti, via Cavour, Manno, Piazza Collegio, via Repubblica, D. Minzoni, Piazza San Francesco, via D. Minzoni, Satta, Pullo, Church of San Michele.
Departure at 20.00.
Good Friday in the morning: Procession "del Monte"
In the morning “Sa Costera" district, in the upper part of the old town, is the perfect scenario for the procession that commemorates the ascent to the Golgotha. La “Via Dolorosa”, the path of sorrows of Christ, with Our Lady that follows his son very close. The procession is opened by the sound of a drum. Several churches are visited while the Archconfraternity Germanus escort the statue of our Lady of Mercy, followed by the Sisters of Holy Sacrament and young boys and girls disguised as Baballottis bringing a little wooden cross along with their matraccas.
Itinerary
From the Church of San Michele:
Via Pullo, della Zecca, Piazza Manzoni, via Angioy, Amsicora, Rolfi, Piazza Pichi, via Sarcidano, Martini, Azuni, Musio, Cagliari, Piazza Lamarmora, via Cavour, Cannavera, Cavallotti, Piazza Fenza, via Eleonora, Lanusei, Dritta, Spanu, vico Spano, via Baudi di Vesme, Mazzini, Piazza Municipio, vico Duomo, Piazza Pichi, via Verdi, Piazza Collegio, via Repubblica, D. Minzoni, Piazza San Francesco, via D. Minzoni, Satta, Pullo, Church of San Michele. Departure at 9.00 am.
Good Friday evening: Descenso Procession
In the early afternoon, after three o'clock, the practice of "Su Scravamentu" takes place in the Oratorio del santo monte where the 17th century wooden statue of the Crucified is unaided and put into the deathbed called “Sa lettèra”. Only the Archconfraternity take part into the ceremony. Late in the evening, the most important Descenso Procession (Deposition of Christ) moves from San Michele Church and encompasses the whole city centre. The funeral of Jesus is set into a far more pompous procession enriched with peculiar elements: first come two big standards, is vessillas, then Two children impersonating St. John and Mary Magdalene followed by two noblemen, is varionis, and two characters of unknown origin, Giuseppe d’Arimatea and Nicodemo, along with two servants carrying ladders. then comes the lettèra with a baldachin where the statue of Christ is covered by a veil, followed by the Germanus escorting Our Lady of Sorrows. Last comes a huge cross carried by some penitents.
Itinerary
From the Church of San Michele:
Via Pullo, della Zecca, Piazza Manzoni, via Angioy, Amsicora, Rolfi, Piazza Pichi, via Sarcidano, Martini, Azuni, Musio, Cagliari, Piazza Lamarmora, via Cavour, Cannavera, Cavallotti, via Eleonora, Piazza Sella, Corso Matteotti, Piazza Lamarmora, via Cavour, Manno, Piazza Collegio, via Repubblica, D. Minzoni, Satta, Pullo, Church of San Michele. Departure at 20.00.