Every five years for the past two centuries the hamlet of Sordevolo, located in northwest Italy’s Biella province, stages “La Passione,” a passion play reenacting Jesus Christ’s last few days on earth, his death and his resurrection.
The play will run from June through September 2015 and, for Americans wishing to attend this rare performance, Catholic pilgrimage provider Regina Tours is offering five departures of “Italy and the Passion Play in Sordevolo,” a trip to witness the play, followed by a tour of three of Italy’s most beautiful cities: Florence, Assisi and Rome.
The pilgrimage begins in the northern Italian city of Milan, with a visit to the city’s famous Duomo, the third largest gothic church in Europe. Next it’s on toSordevolo to attend the village’s remarkable performance of “The Passion of Christ,” produced and performed entirely by the local villagers. The pilgrimage continues to Florence, where tour-goers can view the city’s spectacular collection of Renaissance art and architecture. A guided tour of the city includes Michelangelo Square, the Academia to see Michelangelo’s original David Statue, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistry with its “Gates of Paradise” doors, Signoria Square and Santa Croce Church. In Assisi, the city dedicated to the beloved St. Francis, the group will visit the church of St. Clare, where they will see her incorrupt body, and the 13th century Basilica and the Tomb of St. Francis in the lower Basilica.
A tour of Italy would not be complete without a visit to the “Eternal City” of Rome, where the group will visit the Colosseum, the Arch of Constantine, the Circus Maximus and the Roman Forum on its first day. The next day, the group departs for Vatican City. Visit St. Paul Outside the Walls, St. Peter’s Basilica, Piazza Venezia, Piazza Navona, the Great Synagogue, Isola Tiberina and Castel Saint Angelo, the Trevi Fountain are all on the itinerary during the tours 2-day stay in Rome.
Italy and the Passion Play in Sordevolo is available from $3,698-$3,898, based on double occupancy. Cost includes round-trip air fare to Italy from New York, 7 nights in tourist class hotels all with private facilities, 7 breakfasts and 7 dinners, admission to all sightseeing tours, airport-hotel transfers, touring by private air conditioned motor coaches, the services of a professional escort and tickets to the Passion Play.
Regina Tours, www.regina-tours.com