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The
"Processione dei Misteri" |
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For over four
hundreds years every Holy Friday the tradition of the
Procession of the collection of Sacred Saints of Via
Crucis, known as “I Misteri” is repeated. The
Procession involves a two kilometre journey in which
thousands of local citizens and tourists coming from
all over the world participate. The “Misteri” are a
collection of twenty sculptures made of canvas, wood
and glue that represent the phases of the Passion and
the Death of Jesus. The statues, which stand on a
wooden base, are decorated with silver jewellery and
floral decorations and they are carried on the
shoulders of men who transport them on the journey in
the characteristic “annacata” way, a movement which
the carriers stamp out to the music of the bands. The
statues were designed between the XVII century and the
XVIII century by local artists and they are
characterised by the deep expressiveness of their
faces and for the precision of their engravings. They
are conserved throughout the year in the Chiesa del
Purgatorio from which they emerge at 2:00 p.m. every
Holy Friday, and once the Procession is over on Holy
Saturday the following morning, they are returned to
the church. On the day of the Procession, Trapani is
transformed into a mixture of sacredness and folklore,
and the town has maintained these unchanged
characteristics for centuries. |
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Summer
Opera Events |
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The Summer Opera Events have been organised at Villa
Margherita for over five hundred years by the Luglio
Musicale Trapanese (July Musical Corporation of
Trapani), chaired by the mayor of the town. The most
famous shows with exceptional casts takes place in the
outdoor theatre in the public villa, dedicated to the
tenor Giuseppe Di Stefano. For some years the July
Musical Corporation of Trapani also organises the
Winter Opera Events and the Prose Events, held at the
University’s Auditorium of the Province. Several
initiatives have been carried out during the years by
the corporation: The International Competition “The
young and the opera” dedicated to Giuseppe Di Stefano,
which has launched a number of young singers onto the
international scene; the School Theatre Project, aimed
at bringing students onto the stage. The shows staged
by the Luglio Musicale Trapanese have met with great
success in the most important theatres in Italy and
abroad. |
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The
Feast day of Sant’Alberto and the Feast of the Madonna
of Trapani |
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The Feast day of Sant’Alberto,
patron saint of the town, is celebrated on 7 August.
Several happenings are organised. The bust of the
Saint is carried in a procession from the Basilica
dell’Annunziata, where it is conserved, to the
Cathedral where it remains until 9 August. A second
procession, which is highly impressive, takes place
along the streets of the historical centre. On 16
August the Feast of Madonna of Trapani is celebrated,
the co-patron on the town.
The celebrations which are particularly felt by the
people of Trapani end on the night of 16 August with
the traditional fire work display. |
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Environmental Days |
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Every year the Municipality
organises a calendar full of events which take place
from July until September. Classical music and pop
music shows are held every evening; theatrical shows
are performed, and other shows are organised in
several areas of the town. Last summer an outdoor
cinematographic show was held at Villa Pepoli which
was organised by the Municipality and by the Ente
Luglio Musicale of Trapani. This will now be an annual
event. |
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Environmental Days |
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Every year the Municipality schedules some Sundays on
which the Giornate Ecologiche (Environmental Days)
take place. The main roads of the town are closed to
traffic and shows are organised as well as bicycle
rides and outdoor lectures about the environment which
are put together with the support of schools and
voluntary associations. |
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