In the middle of Holy Week, the images of 'Steps and Mysteries' are displayed as part of the exhibition to highlight the similarities between the religious rites of Sicily and Andalusia.
The exhibition 'The Procession: 500 Years of History' can be visited in Caltanissetta, Sicily, from March 15th to May 15th. This exhibition is made possible through a collaboration between the Federico Secondo Foundation and the Association for the Tourist Development of the Passion Route. In addition to showcasing the rites and traditions characteristic of the city of Caltanissetta, the exhibition includes images from the 'Steps and Mysteries' exhibition. The latter highlights the traditions and unique aspects of Holy Week celebrations in the various towns along the route and reveals striking similarities between the Holy Week celebrations in Andalusia and Sicily. The exhibition's aim is to present, in an educational way, and to raise awareness of the significant historical and cultural heritage that unites both regions.
Encarnación Giráldez, Technical Director of the Caminos de Pasión route, attended a conference today on behalf of the association, organized by the Fondazione Federico Secondo. She was one of the collaborating entities that made the exhibition possible, and her presence also served to highlight the importance of the work that the European Network of Holy Week and Easter Celebrations will undertake to promote this cultural heritage. The conference will also emphasize the work that the Fondazione Federico Secondo is carrying out with UNESCO to achieve the declaration of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity for the Holy Week celebrations in Sicily.
The Federico II of Sicily Foundation began its collaboration with the Association for the Tourism Development of the Paths of Passion Route more than three years ago. Their first joint exhibition was "Steps and Mysteries," held at the Oratory of Saints Helena and Constantine in Palermo two years ago, opening on March 31, 2017. This was followed by an exhibition in Seville in February 2018, then in the cities of Córdoba and Jaén, and subsequently in the towns and villages along the Paths of Passion Route. The exhibition is currently on display at the Capuchin Monastery in Alcalá la Real, Jaén.
THE EUROPEAN NETWORK OF HOLY WEEK AND EASTER CELEBRATIONS
On March 18th, a new association was established in Braga (Portugal), integrating representatives from Spain, Slovenia, Italy, Malta and Portugal, totaling nine entities that organize ceremonies related to Holy Week and Easter in their different geographies and being represented in Sicily by the cities of Palermo, Trapani and Caltanissetta.
This new association was created to promote European Holy Week and Easter traditions and aims to apply for recognition as a Cultural Route to the Institute of Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe. It seeks to unite efforts and leverage synergies to consolidate a model for the conservation and dissemination of the tangible and intangible heritage of Holy Week and Easter, while also promoting these traditions, from the various members and geographical areas involved, as high-quality tourist destinations.
The initiative represents a new line of collaboration between Sicily and Andalusia, extending this networking work to new European regions and giving it a wider reach beyond these territories.