Imagine walking through the baroque streets of Syracuse, surrounded by the solemn sound of drums and the irresistible scents of Sicilian cuisine. Holy Week here is not only a religious celebration, but an experience that involves all the senses!
From the mystical charm of the statues carried on your shoulders to the explosion of flavours of cassata and roast lamb, every moment is a journey into Sicilian culture. And if you want to live all this in maximum comfort, there is only the embarrassment of choice between apartments with sea view, holiday homes in the heart of the city and historic houses full of charm.
Get ready to discover an Easter you will not forget: between faith, folklore and forks of pure goodness, Syracuse is waiting for you!
Table of contents
Holy Week in Syracuse - The traditions
Holy Week in Syracuse is a deeply felt event, a mix of faith, tradition and culture that transforms the city into a stage of exciting celebrations. Here is an overview of the most significant traditions, from Lent to Easter.
Lent: the Time of Preparation

Lent, the 40-day period preceding Easter, is lived with recollection and prayer. In the churches of Syracuse are organized masses and moments of reflection, while the faithful respect fasting and abstinence from meat, especially on Fridays. In many houses, simple traditional dishes are prepared, such as vegetable soups and homemade bread.
Good Friday: the heart of Holy Week

Good Friday is the most intense and evocative moment of the Syracuse Holy Week. The city gathers for solemn processions that evoke the Passion of Christ. Among the most important we find:
- The Procession of the Dead Christ and the Sorrowful One: This is one of the most touching celebrations and takes place in the historic center of Ortigia. The statue of the dead Christ is carried on the shoulders by the confreres, followed by the Madonna Addolorata, accompanied by songs and prayers. The streets are filled with torches and a silence full of emotion.
- I Sepolcri: On the evening of Holy Thursday, the faithful visit the churches that set up the altars of the Repositionary, called “sepulchres”. It is a popular custom to visit at least an odd number of churches, usually three or seven, to gather in prayer.
Easter: the Feast of the Resurrection

Easter Sunday marks the end of the period of mourning and the triumph of life over death. One of the most evocative moments is the Meeting between Our Lady and the Risen Christ, a representation full of emotion that takes place in different locations in the province of Syracuse. The church bells ring, and the city is animated with liturgical celebrations and convivial moments.
At the table, Siracusa Easter is a feast of flavors: there are baked lamb with potatoes, meat pancakes (tasty stuffed focacce), Sicilian cassata and cuddure cu l’ova, typical desserts decorated with boiled eggs.
Easter Monday: the day of relaxation and nature

Easter Monday is dedicated to outings. Families and groups of friends head to the Syracuse countryside, the beaches of the coast or natural areas such as the Cavagrande del Cassibile Reserve or the Vendicari Reserve, for an outdoor picnic based on typical Sicilian products such as cheeses, salami and the famous cunzato bread.
Holy Week in Syracuse is a unique experience, which mixes spirituality and folklore, tradition and conviviality. An unmissable opportunity to immerse yourself in the authentic soul of Sicily.
Easter Holidays in Syracuse: when do they start?
In Syracuse, Easter is not just a holiday, but an experience that you can breathe in the streets, between the sound of the drums of processions and the scent of traditional sweets. Schools usually close during the Easter week, but the true spirit of the festival comes alive on Holy Thursday when the most solemn rites begin and celebrations involve the entire city.
Easter 2025
In 2025, Easter will be Sunday 20 April, and school holidays in Syracuse will officially begin on Thursday 17 April, ending on Tuesday 22 April 2025.
Desserts and typical dishes of Sicily in Syracuse for Easter
Easter in Syracuse is a festival that unites adults and children in an atmosphere of tradition and conviviality. The tables are filled with typical dishes and desserts related to ancient Sicilian customs, which make every moment special. Here are some of the most beloved delicacies during Holy Week.
Easter lunch in Syracuse
The Easter lunch in Syracuse is a real ritual of conviviality, where the family gathers around a table with dishes that tell centuries of history and tradition. After the religious celebrations in the morning, a banquet full of authentic flavors is given, where the protagonists are the lamb, the breads and the typical desserts of Sicilian Easter.
The dishes vary from family to family, but some dishes can never be missed: appetizers of cheeses and local meats, succulent first courses and second courses based on lamb meat, symbol of the holiday. All accompanied by Sicilian wine and, of course, a sweet finish with the traditional cassata and cuddura cu l’ova, which is the joy of the little ones.
Easter sweets in Sicily
- Cuddura cu l’ova – Shortbread cookies with boiled eggs in the center, decorated with colored sugar. A sweet loved especially by children, who often receive it as a gift.
- Cassata siciliana – The masterpiece of Sicilian pastry: a sweet ricotta cake, sponge cake, icing and candied fruit, perfect to end your Easter lunch.
- Pignolata al miele – Small balls of fried dough covered in honey, typical of the holidays and irresistible for young and old.
- Pastieri – Sweet treats filled with sweetened ricotta and cinnamon, a delight that melts in the mouth.
- Colomba pasquale – Also in Sicily you can not miss the classic dove, often enriched with local variations such as pistachio cream.

Easter events in Syracuse: the most suggestive celebrations
The most significant events are:
- Visit to”Sepolcri” (Holy Thursday – Churches of Syracuse)
According to tradition, on the evening of Holy Thursday the faithful visit the churches that set up the altars of the Repositioning, called “Sepolcri”. It is a time of meditation and prayer, during which we usually visit at least an odd number of churches, usually three or seven.
- La “Scisa da Cruci” (Deposition from the Cross) (Good Friday – Church of the Carmine)
One of the oldest and most solemn rites in Syracuse, which evokes the deposition of Christ from the cross. The celebration takes place in the Church of Carmine and culminates with the transport of the Christ laid down in the evening procession through the streets of the city.
- The Meeting between Our Lady and the Risen Christ (Easter Sunday – Piazza Duomo)
An exciting moment that symbolizes the Resurrection. The statues of the Madonna and the Risen Christ are carried in procession from two different paths to meet with applause and emotion in Piazza Duomo, while the bells ring and the faithful celebrate the end of the period of mourning.
Where to stay in Syracuse and surroundings for Easter 2025
Now that you have discovered the exciting processions of Holy Week, the typical dishes that will make your mouth water and the traditions that make unique Easter in Syracuse, there is only one thing missing: where to sleep to live this experience at its best?
Whether you want to wake up in an apartment in the baroque streets of Ortigia, with the sound of bells announcing the Resurrection, or relax in a villa immersed in the Sicilian countryside after enjoying an Easter lunch like a king, Syracuse and its surroundings offer a wide choice of accommodation for every taste and budget.
So, now that you have the menu ready, the events marked and the suitcase almost closed… You just have to choose the perfect place for your Easter in Syracuse and get ready to live an unforgettable experience!