Rites and traditions of the Alghero Holy Week
Easter in Alghero is a ritual that is repeated unchanged for centuries, jealously retains his Catalan imprint. Even today, an event strongly felt by the population that attracts faithful and tourists from all over Sardinia and from Spain’s Catalan community.
Among the many cities in which to celebrate Easter in Sardinia, Alghero is the ideal mix to learn about the traditions of a thousand-year-old island and the beauty of an area rich in history and nature.
If you’re still undecided on how to spend Easter holidays in Sardinia, consider the option of spending a weekend in a charming farmhouse immersed in nature, where you can enjoy a well-deserved relaxation and admire the natural beauty that Sardinia has to offer.
HOLY WEEK IN ALGHERO: 27 MARCH – 5 APRIL 2026
The Holy Week is a celebration of popular faith, that fills the narrow cobbled and dark streets of the Alghero old town. Lit by thousands of red torches parading in a slow procession punctuated by chants and prayers of the faithful. Immersed in a sacred suggestion of great emotional impact.
Among the most significant there is the Process dels Misteris (Procession of the Mysteries). The six statues representing the Passion of Christ are carried on the shoulders all the way. Particularly valuable is the Christ of Alicante.
Delivered to the city by the sinking of the ship Santa Maria di Montenero in 1606, departed from Alicante direct to Genoa. The Santcristus, of Spanish wood has become a symbol of the historical and religious tradition of the Easter in Alghero.
The most awaited moment is certainly the rites of Desclavament – the Descending – from the Cross. This takes place on Good Friday. The statue of Christ is laid in the golden casket renamed “bressol” (crib) and carried in procession through the old town followed by the “Jermans Blancs” hooded Spanish confraternities, faithful in prayer in a long dark path lit only by the red torch.
The traditional choirs all along the way represent the partecipation and the culture of all Sardinia people.
The faithful and visitors arriving to celebrate Easter in Alghero willing to let be fascinating by these deep traditions that the people jealously handed down through the passage of time in preserving the memory.
The culture, the traditions still so alive in this corner of Catalan Sardinia
EASTER IN ALGHERO: CALENDAR OF THE EVENTS 2026
PROCESSIONS ITINERARY
March 27
Friday of Passion
8:00 PM – Procession of Our Lady of Sorrows (Addolorata)
Route: from the Church of San Francesco, Via C. Alberto, Piazza Duomo, Via Santa Barbara, Via Cavour, Via Don Deroma, Via P. Umberto, Via G. Ferret, Via Simon, Via Roma, Via C. Alberto, Church of San Francesco.
Return of the Confraternity to the Church of Mercy (Misericordia).
March 29
Palm Sunday
10:00 AM – Blessing of the Palms at the Church of San Francesco.
Procession to the Cathedral: Via P. Umberto, Via G. Ferret, Via C. Alberto, Piazza Duomo, Cathedral.
10:30 AM – Cathedral: Holy Mass presided over by Bishop Father Mauro Maria Morfino.
Return of the Confraternity to the Church of Mercy.
March 31
Holy Tuesday
8:00 PM – Procession of the Mysteries
Route: from the Church of San Francesco, Via C. Alberto, Piazza Duomo, Homily in the Cathedral, Piazza Duomo, Via Santa Barbara, Via Cavour, Via Don Deroma, Via P. Umberto, Via G. Ferret, Largo San Francesco, Via Kennedy, Via XX Settembre, Via S. Agostino, Via V. Veneto, Via V. Emanuele, Via Roma, Via C. Alberto, Church of San Francesco, return to the Church of Mercy.
April 2
Holy Thursday
10:00 AM – Cathedral: Chrism Mass celebrated by Bishop Father Mauro Maria Morfino – The Diocesan Choir Alghero-Bosa accompanies the celebration.
6:30 PM – Cathedral: Mass of the Lord’s Supper and Rite of the Washing of the Feet, celebrated by Bishop Father Mauro Maria Morfino.
9:00 PM – Eucharistic Visitation Procession | “Les Cerques”
Route: Church of Mercy, Via Misericordia, Church of San Michele, Via C. Alberto, Via G. Ferret, Largo San Francesco, Via Kennedy, Via XX Settembre, Via Giovanni XXIII, Via Mons. Ciuchini, Church of Mercede, Via Mons. Ciuchini, Via Giovanni XXIII, Via XX Settembre, Via Kennedy, Largo San Francesco, Via G. Ferret, Via C. Alberto, Church of San Francesco, Via C. Alberto, Piazza Duomo, Cathedral, Piazza Duomo, Via Santa Barbara, Via Cavour, Via Don Deroma, Via P. Umberto and return to the Church of Mercy.
10:00 PM – Cathedral: Eucharistic Adoration at the Altar of Reposition.
April 3
Good Friday
8:00 AM – Cathedral: Office of Readings and Morning Lauds
11:20 AM – Way of the Cross Procession
Route: Church of Mercy, Via P. Umberto, Via G. Ferret, Via Simon, Piazza Porta Terra, Via Sassari, Scalo Tarantiello, Banchina Dogana, Porto Salve, Piazza Civica, Piazza Duomo, Cathedral of Santa Maria.
11:40 AM – Cathedral: Elevation of the Christ – Accompanied by the Musical Association Lo Frontuni
4:00 PM – Cathedral: Liturgical Celebration of the Passion of the Lord. Presided over by Bishop Father Mauro Maria Morfino, Reading of the Passion, Adoration of the Cross, Eucharistic Communion.
8:00 PM – Procession of the Descent to the Cathedral
Route: Church of Mercy, Via P. Umberto, Via G. Ferret, Via C. Alberto, Piazza Duomo, Cathedral.
8:30 PM – Cathedral: Sermon of the Descent – the Polyphonic Choir of Alghero accompanies the rite
External projection of the celebration in Piazza Duomo
9:30 PM – Good Friday Procession
Route: Cathedral, Via Santa Barbara, Via Cavour, Via Don Deroma, Via P. Umberto, Via G. Ferret, Via Cavour, Bastioni C. Colombo, Via C. Alberto, Via G. Ferret, Largo San Francesco, Via Kennedy, Piazza Sulis (approx. 10:10 PM), Lungomare Dante, Via Gramsci, Via Pascoli, Via Sassari, Via Carducci, Piazza della Mercede (approx. 10:40 PM), Via Nuoro, Via S. Agostino, Via V. Veneto, Via V. Emanuele, Torre di Porta Terra (approx. 11:20 PM), Via Roma, Via C. Alberto, Via G. Ferret, Via P. Umberto, Church of Mercy (approx. 11:40 PM).
The indicated times are to be considered approximate and may vary depending on the duration of the rites and the progress of the procession.
April 4
Holy Saturday
9:00 PM – Cathedral – Solemn Easter Vigil, Liturgy of Light, Liturgy of the Word, Baptismal and Eucharistic Liturgy presided over by Bishop Father Mauro Maria Morfino – the Polyphonic Choir of Alghero performs the chants of the celebration.
April 5
Easter Sunday
9:00 AM – Procession of the Madonna
Route: Church of San Francesco, Via C. Alberto, Bastioni C. Colombo corner Via C. Alberto (Meeting point)
9:30 AM – Procession of the Risen Jesus
Route: Church of Mercy, Via Misericordia, Bastioni C. Colombo corner Via C. Alberto (Meeting point)
9:45 AM – Meeting of the Risen Jesus with the Madonna (Bastioni C. Colombo, Corner Via C. Alberto) – salvo gunfire performed by the Hunters Association Gruppo Cacciatori Armeria Tanda
9:50 AM – Procession
Route: Via C. Alberto, Via G. Ferret, Largo San Francesco, Via Kennedy, Via XX Settembre, Via La Marmora, Via V. Emanuele, Via Roma, Via C. Alberto, Piazza Duomo, Cathedral.
10:30 AM – Cathedral: Solemn Mass presided over by Bishop Father Mauro Maria Morfino.
12:00 PM – Return of the procession to the Church of Mercy: Piazza Duomo, Via Santa Barbara, Via Don Deroma, Via P. Umberto, Church of Mercy.
12:00 PM – Cathedral: Holy Mass
April 12
Second Sunday of Easter
10:30 AM – Shrine of Our Lady of Valverde: Holy Mass presided over by Bishop Father Mauro Maria Morfino – the Polyphonic Choir Olmedese Incantos sings.
The faithful are invited to wear dark clothing during the processions on Holy Thursday and Good Friday.
(Source: AlgheroTurismo – Visit the website for more information)
EASTER OFFERS IN ALGHERO
Visit our accommodation to enjoy a traditional Easter in Alghero
If you’re looking for accommodations immersed in greenery and just a few minutes away from the most beautiful beaches of Alghero, we offer houses and apartments ideal for couples or families.
Best HOTELS in ALGHERO city centre
If you want to stay in the heart of the city and have the convenience of walking around the streets of the center, here are our suggestions.
Most popular destinations in Sardinia
Hotel in Castelasardo | Hotel in Bosa | Hotel in Cagliari
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