WHAZHOT · MADE IN FLO' · ONLY IN FLO' · DISCOUNT COUPONS
sections
Booking
.
culture
.
The Grassina Passion Play
[Susan Glasspool]
Good Friday is remembered with long processions that often combine religious ceremonies with deeply sensitive historic reconstructions connected to the Passion and Death of Christ. One of the most important of these is the Good Friday Passion Play at Grassina (Bagno a Ripoli), which was first performed in 1633 when Florence and the surrounding countryside was undergoing a terrible epidemic of the plague, which providentially missed this particular area, causing the inhabitants to organise a solemn procession to express their gratitude for the grace received. This religious re-enactment has been held every year ever since and is not only fascinating for its intrinsic value but also for the spectacular and scenographic effects to be found in some of the more dramatic episodes, acted with great realism and feeling, of scenes from the life of Christ. These wonderful tableaux vivants are enacted on the hill of Calvary (200 mt. from the town), while the long historic pageant, with as many as 500 participants in period costume, moves through the town below. The combination of such a host of performers, the care for detail, the background music and the faithful reconstruction of each event make this Passion Play a unique performance. Don’t miss the chance to see it again this year on April 14th. It starts at 9.30pm but we advise you to arrive well in advance to make sure of a good viewing point. MORE