Since the XVI century, “Sa Pasca Manna” (Easter) in Cagliari has been a highly significant religious event with a prominent Spanish influence. The processions cover the streets and churches of the four historical neighbourhoods: Castello, Stampace, Marina and Villanova.
On Good Friday, the Confraternity of the Santissimo Crocefisso, starting from the oratory of the same name, leads the Procession of the Santi Misteri (Is Misterius). From here, the seven wooden simulacra (by the sculptor Giuseppe Antonio Lonis) visit the seven churches in the old town centre, symbolising the seven stations on the Via Crucis. On Palm Sunday, at 12:00, in the church of San Giovanni, the simulacrum of Jesus on the cross is removed from the chapel. This is followed by Holy Tuesday with the Procession of the Misteri of Stampace.
On Holy Wednesday, the sisters of Santissimo Crocifisso dress the statue of the Madonna Addolorata (Our Lady of Sorrows) during the Dressing ritual followed by the Crucifixion rite on Holy Thursday. The women then take to the church the grain sprouted in the dark Is Nenneris. It is pale green and epitomises death and resurrection. The same ceremony is also held in the church of San Giovanni, home to the Confraternity of the Solitudine. The ritual of the 7 churches is held on Holy Thursday. At 20:00, the procession leaves the Church of S. Efisio, in the Stampace neighbourhood where, Sant’Efisio dressed in mourning, enters the 7 churches.
On Good Friday, the procession from the church of San Giovanni heads towards the Cathedral, with the statue of Jesus on the Cross. Christ is accompanied by the statue of the Madonna Addolorata, with its chest pierced by the sword of the seven sorrows, followed by two children who represent St. John and Mary Magdalen. Two standards from the XVIII century lead the procession with symbols of the Passion: like the cockerel, nails and the Roman soldiers’ dice. The procession, arranged by the Confraternity of Solitudine, is a continuation of chants and drum rolls. The statues will then return to the church of San Giovanni on Holy Saturday.
On Good Friday, there are another two processions: the first one organised by the Crocefisso Confraternity leaves the Oratory of the same name in piazza San Giacomo and reaches the church of San Lucifero. The second one, organised by the Gonfalone Confraternity leaves the church of Sant’Efisio and returns there after walking around the Stampace neighbourhood.
Holy Saturday is characterised by “Su Scravamentu“, the removal of the body of Christ from the cross, then laid on a stretcher covered in veils in the morning. The simulacrum will then be accompanied on the return journey to the church (at 17:00).
Easter Sunday sees the “S’Incontru“, the meeting between the statue of the Risen Christ and the Madonna, from piazza S. Giacomo to Via Garibaldi. The clothing on the statues reflects the Resurrection: Christ with the halo parades with a red band and the Madonna with a crown, wears a white robe decorated in gold and a pale-blue cloak. The men and chorists in the procession wear simple white tunics.
On Easter Monday, the votive procession dedicated to Sant’Efisio acts as a prologue to the Feast of the Martyred Patron Saint of Sardinia. The Gonfalone Confraternity carries the Saint from the church of Sant’Efisio to the Cathedral. The simulacrum is dressed by a soldier from the Roman army, with armour, red cloak and helmet decorated with a feather. In line with tradition, the intercession of the Saint in 1793 is commemorated when the wind drove away the French ships attacking Cagliari.
Lastly, on the days immediately following the eighth day of Easter, dedicated to “is inserrus” (the closures), the simulacra are returned to their respective chapels.
