# Holy Week and 'Ncuontru in Petralia Sottana

> In Petralia Sottana Holy Week is acted out in the streets: the Calvary with the "giudei", the Caduta du Tiluni at Easter and the 'Ncuontru at noon on Sunday.

- Page: https://www.lemadonie.it/en/events/holy-week-and-ncuontru-petralia-sottana/
- Updated: 2026-10-19
- Other languages: [Italiano](https://www.lemadonie.it/eventi/settimana-santa-petralia-sottana.md) · [Español](https://www.lemadonie.it/es/eventos/semana-santa-y-ncuontru-petralia-sottana.md) · [Français](https://www.lemadonie.it/fr/evenements/semaine-sainte-et-ncuontru-petralia-sottana.md) · [Deutsch](https://www.lemadonie.it/de/veranstaltungen/karwoche-und-ncuontru-petralia-sottana.md)

## At a glance

| | |
|---|---|
| 2026 edition | 3 – 5 April 2026 |
| Where | Old town of Petralia Sottana: church of San Marco e San Biagio, Calvary, Chiesa Madre and Chianu 'u Culleggiu, [Petralia Sottana](https://www.lemadonie.it/en/villages/petralia-sottana/) |
| Category | Religious festival |
| Recurrence | Every year, Holy Week, from Holy Thursday to Easter Sunday; 'Ncuontru at noon on Easter Day |
| Organiser | Parrocchie e confraternite di Petralia Sottana |
| Price | The rites and processions take place in the streets of the town. The 2026 documentary screening at the Cinema Grifeo was organised by the Consulta Giovanile. |
| Source | https://madoniedintorni.com/2026/03/30/la-settimana-santa-a-petralia-sottana-tra-suggestive-e-antiche-celebrazioni/ (checked on 2026-10-19) |

## Programme

On Good Friday the statues are carried to the Calvary, guarded by the "giudei"; at noon on Easter Sunday the 'Ncuontru. Wednesday 1 April: screening of the documentary "La settimana Santa a Petralia Sottana" at the Cinema Grifeo.

In Petralia Sottana Holy Week is a performance that involves the whole town. Confraternity members in their capes, Pie Donne with their hair over their faces, armed giudei and children dressed as little angels act out the Passion in the old town, from Holy Thursday to Easter Sunday. The most awaited moment is the 'Ncuontru, at noon on Easter Day: the Risen Christ and the Madonna rush towards each other and the Mother lets her black veil fall.

## A typical programme, day by day

The dates follow Easter. This is the sequence of rites described by [Madoniedintorni](https://madoniedintorni.com/2026/03/30/la-settimana-santa-a-petralia-sottana-tra-suggestive-e-antiche-celebrazioni/) for 2026:

| Day | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Holy Wednesday (1 April 2026, 7 pm) | Screening of the documentary "La settimana Santa a Petralia Sottana", organised by the Consulta Giovanile | Cinema Grifeo |
| Holy Thursday, afternoon | Dressing of Our Lady of Sorrows; the dead Christ in his urn and Our Lady of Sorrows on view until late at night | Church of San Marco e San Biagio |
| Good Friday, morning | The statues are carried to the Calvary, guarded by the giudei; procession of the dead Christ with confraternities and congregations | Calvary and old town streets |
| Holy Saturday, night | Easter Vigil, at midnight the Caduta du Tiluni | Chiesa Madre |
| Easter Sunday, noon | 'Ncuontru between the Risen Christ and the Madonna | Chianu 'u Culleggiu |

## Holy Thursday and Good Friday

On Holy Thursday, in the church of San Marco e San Biagio, the ancient rite of dressing Our Lady of Sorrows takes place. The statue wears the colours of mourning: a purple gown, an embroidered black velvet cloak, a white lace bonnet on her head and a white handkerchief in her hand. Then the dead Christ, in his urn, and Our Lady of Sorrows stay in front of the high altar for the faithful to keep vigil until late at night.

On Friday morning the statues go up to the Calvary, an omega-shaped structure with three crosses. The church bells fall silent, "tied" until Easter, and in their place sounds u trucculuni, the wooden clapper. The shroud hanging from the largest cross announces that the urn is there. In front stand the giudei, performers dressed as Roman soldiers, who open and close the way for the faithful coming to visit.

The procession of the dead Christ follows a route opposite to all the others. The confraternities and congregations wear their costumes marked with mourning and keep step to the sound of the troccule.

## The Caduta du Tiluni

On the night between Saturday and Sunday the Chiesa Madre is in darkness. The New Fire is lit and with it the Paschal Candle, set on an 11th-century Arab candlestick. At midnight exactly "u Tiluni" falls, the great dark cloth that has covered the presbytery for forty days: light returns to the church's architecture and to the image of the Risen Christ.

## The Easter 'Ncuontru

From early morning the bells ring out in celebration. The procession is led only by the confraternities, with banners, crucifixes, large candles, "paliceddi" and "sergentine", in order of foundation: the youngest first, the oldest last. The two statues cross the old town by different streets and stop near the Chianu 'u Culleggiu.

At the masters of ceremonies' signal, three trumpet blasts and three shots, the Risen Christ and the Madonna move, catch sight of each other and rush together. At noon exactly the Mother drops her veil of mourning and the two embrace, to applause, white doves, the town band and firecrackers. In 2026, Madoniedintorni noted, the firecrackers were not set off.

## The confraternities and congregations

Seven congregations take part in the rites, with the founding year given by Madoniedintorni: Onorata maestranza (1701), della Scabica under the title of Maria SS.ma dell'Alto (1757), San Francesco di Paola (1876), San Giuseppe (1876), the Società operaia religiosa di mutuo soccorso del Monte Calvario (1886), San Calogero (1904) and San Giovanni (1909). There are six confraternities: Patriarca San Giuseppe, SS.mo Rosario, Anime Sante del Purgatorio, SS.mo Crocifisso, Maria SS.ma della Misericordia di Dio and SS.mo Sacramento.

## Practical tips

- **When to arrive.** For the 'Ncuontru it's best to be in the centre before noon, the exact time of the meeting.
- **Getting there.** Petralia Sottana sits at 1,000 metres. From Palermo it's about 105 km and an hour and a half, via the Tremonzelli exit on the A19 and then the SS120 (see [getting to the Madonie by car](https://www.lemadonie.it/en/roads/)). Sources don't list dedicated car parks.
- **Where to stay.** To follow the midnight Vigil and Sunday's 'Ncuontru it's worth staying in town: see [where to stay in Petralia Sottana](https://www.lemadonie.it/en/villages/petralia-sottana/where-to-stay/) and [where to eat in Petralia Sottana](https://www.lemadonie.it/en/villages/petralia-sottana/where-to-eat/).
- **Weather.** The rites and processions are outdoors: check the [Petralia Sottana weather](https://www.lemadonie.it/en/weather/petralia-sottana/).

## Past editions

| Year | Easter | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 1 April | Balarm listed a programme from 23 March to 1 April ([Balarm](https://www.balarm.it/eventi/la-settimana-santa-a-petralia-sottana-dal-dolore-della-morte-alla-gioia-de-lu-ncuontru-82808)) |
| 2026 | 5 April | Documentary at the Cinema Grifeo on 1 April; no firecrackers at the 'Ncuontru |

In the same week, on the coast, there's [Holy Week in Cefalù](https://www.lemadonie.it/en/events/holy-week-in-cefalu/) with the rites in the Cathedral. The rest of the town is on the [Petralia Sottana page](https://www.lemadonie.it/en/villages/petralia-sottana/) and under [events in Petralia Sottana](https://www.lemadonie.it/en/villages/petralia-sottana/events/); other festivals are in the [Madonie religious festivals](https://www.lemadonie.it/en/events/religious-festivals/) calendar.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the 'Ncuontru in Petralia Sottana?

It's the meeting between the statues of the Risen Christ and the Madonna, at noon on Easter Sunday. The two statues travel through the old town by different streets, stop near the Chianu 'u Culleggiu and, at the masters of ceremonies' signal of three trumpet blasts and three shots, rush towards each other. At noon exactly the Madonna drops her veil of mourning.

### What happens on Good Friday in Petralia Sottana?

In the morning the statues of the dead Christ and Our Lady of Sorrows are carried to the Calvary, an omega-shaped structure with three crosses. The church bells are "tied" and in their place sounds u trucculuni, the wooden clapper. Performers dressed as Roman soldiers, whom tradition calls giudei, stand guard and control the flow of the faithful.

### What is the Caduta du Tiluni?

It's the moment of the Easter Vigil in the Chiesa Madre: at midnight exactly the great dark cloth that has hidden the presbytery for forty days falls. The darkened church lights up and the image of the Risen Christ appears. In the past, according to Madoniedintorni, a clean fall was taken as an omen.

### Who takes part in the processions?

The town's confraternities and congregations in traditional dress, the Pie Donne with their hair over their faces, the giudei with weapons and uniforms, and children dressed as little angels. In the 'Ncuontru procession the confraternities walk in order of foundation, from the youngest to the oldest.

### Why did people say "take the bride a vìdiri u 'Ncuontru"?

According to Madoniedintorni, in nearby towns marriage contracts once included the husband's promise to take his bride to see the 'Ncuontru in Petralia Sottana, considered a good omen. The obligation has gone, but the belief that watching the rite brings luck remains.

### When is the 'Ncuontru in 2027?

The 'Ncuontru always takes place at noon on Easter Sunday. The programme for Holy Week 2027 in Petralia Sottana hasn't been published yet: in 2026 Madoniedintorni presented it on 30 March, a few days before Easter.

## Sources

- [Madoniedintorni, la Settimana Santa a Petralia Sottana (2026)](https://madoniedintorni.com/2026/03/30/la-settimana-santa-a-petralia-sottana-tra-suggestive-e-antiche-celebrazioni/)
- [Balarm, la Settimana Santa a Petralia Sottana (2018)](https://www.balarm.it/eventi/la-settimana-santa-a-petralia-sottana-dal-dolore-della-morte-alla-gioia-de-lu-ncuontru-82808)

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Markdown version of the page https://www.lemadonie.it/en/events/holy-week-and-ncuontru-petralia-sottana/, from Le Madonie (lemadonie.it), an independent guide to the Madonie. Facts with source and date of check.