Religion

Holy Week in Sicily

Bruno Barbey captures the tradition and ceremony of Holy Week in Sicily

Bruno Barbey

Bruno Barbey Town of Trapani. Sicily, Italy. 1964. © Bruno Barbey | Magnum Photos
Bruno Barbey Town of Palermo. Sicily, Italy. 1964. © Bruno Barbey | Magnum Photos
Bruno Barbey SS. Crocifisso , Procession of the Crucifix with the "Little angels" covered of gold. Parrocchia S. Pietro Apostolo di San Pier Niceto, catholic church. Small town close to Messina. Holy week. San (...)
Bruno Barbey SS. Crocifisso , Procession of the Crucifix with the "Little angels" covered of gold. Holy week. Small town close to Messina. San Pier Niceto, Sicily, Italy. 2011. © Bruno Barbey | Magnum Photos
Bruno Barbey SS. Crocifisso , Procession of the Crucifix with the "Little angels" covered of gold. Holy week. Small town close to Messina. San Pier Niceto, Sicily, Italy. 2011. © Bruno Barbey | Magnum Photos
Bruno Barbey Processione. Holy Week. Marsala, Sicily, Italy. 2011. © Bruno Barbey | Magnum Photos
Bruno Barbey Festa dei Giudei. San Fratello, Sicily, Italy. 2011. © Bruno Barbey | Magnum Photos
Bruno Barbey "La cerca". Holy Week. Collesano, Sicily, Italy. 2011. © Bruno Barbey | Magnum Photos
Bruno Barbey "La cerca". Holy Week. Collesano, Sicily, Italy. 2011. © Bruno Barbey | Magnum Photos
Bruno Barbey "La cerca". Holy Week. Collesano, Sicily, Italy. 2011. © Bruno Barbey | Magnum Photos
Bruno Barbey Processione. Holy Week. Marsala, Sicily, Italy. 2011. © Bruno Barbey | Magnum Photos
Bruno Barbey Holy Week. Corleone, Sicily, Italy. 2011. © Bruno Barbey | Magnum Photos
Bruno Barbey Holy Week. Corleone, Sicily, Italy. 2011. © Bruno Barbey | Magnum Photos
Bruno Barbey "La cerca". Holy Week. Collesano, Sicily, Italy. 2011. © Bruno Barbey | Magnum Photos
Bruno Barbey Holy Week. Corleone, Sicily, Italy. 2011. © Bruno Barbey | Magnum Photos
Bruno Barbey Holy Week. Palermo, Sicily, Italy. 2011. © Bruno Barbey | Magnum Photos
Bruno Barbey Holy Week. Trapani, Sicily, Italy. 2011. © Bruno Barbey | Magnum Photos
Bruno Barbey Processione. Holy Week. Marsala, Sicily, Italy. 2011. © Bruno Barbey | Magnum Photos
Bruno Barbey Processione. Holy Week. Marsala, Sicily, Italy. 2011. © Bruno Barbey | Magnum Photos
Bruno Barbey Festa dei Giudei. San Fratello, Sicily, Italy. 2011. © Bruno Barbey | Magnum Photos
Bruno Barbey Festa dei Giudei. San Fratello, Sicily, Italy. 2011. © Bruno Barbey | Magnum Photos
Bruno Barbey Il Ballo dei Diavoli. Holy Week. Prizzi, Sicily, Italy. 2011. © Bruno Barbey | Magnum Photos
Bruno Barbey SS. Crocifisso , Procession of the Crucifix with the "Little angels" covered of gold. Parrocchia S. Pietro Apostolo di San Pier Niceto, catholic church. Holy week. Small town close to Messina. San (...)

Holy Week traditions in Sicily have their roots in the legacy of 17th century Spanish domination of the island, and still bear a close resemblance to current Easter traditions in southern Spain. A multitude of ancient rituals take place in various towns and villages around the island: solemn processions and passion plays culminate in a fireworks celebration on Easter Sunday. Bruno Barbey first photographed these rites in 1963, and in 2011, he returned to photograph the celebrations again, still almost identical to the first time he witnessed them.

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