the VICHESIAN SONGS

Cities

09 Dicembre 2024

A village with an ancient heart, VICO DEL GARGANO (Fg) stands in a privileged position in the Montagna del Sole (ancient name for the Gargano), on a rocky promontory between the sea, with San Menaio and Calenella, and the Umbra Forest.

It is one of the nine Apulian municipalities that bear the label ‘I Borghi più Belli d'Italia’. Its fine hilly air tempers the summer heat and softens the winter cold. It is an ancient town built on prehistoric settlements, in fact it owes its name to the Schiavoni called by Otto I around 900 AD.

Vico del Gargano enchants visitors with its historic centre, built on the three main nuclei of Civita, Terra and Casale. Its past is dense with prehistoric evidence (the necropolises of Monte Tabor and Monte Pucci are of considerable interest).

The Norman-Swabian period marked the development of Vico del Gargano. Evidence of that era is a castle, probably built by Frederick II of Swabia's men around 1240, and the town walls, which also include watchtowers and several small churches. The historical centre is divided into narrow streets, old 'a pujedd ’ houses (terraced houses with an external staircase, with living quarters on the upper floor and a space underneath used as a stable or store), the remains of walls and towers.

The ‘Trappeto Maratea’, an old mill for pressing olives that preserves a wooden press dating back to 1317, is worth a special visit. Palazzo Della Bella, a curious early 20th-century building inspired by the 14th-century model of the Florentine Palazzo Vecchio, completes the walk through Vico's historic centre.

Just outside the town is the suggestive Convent of the Capuchins with a centuries-old holm oak (17 metres high by 5 metres in diameter) and, inside, a miraculous Crucifix as well as paintings by Vaccaro and Borghese. The Convent of Santa Maria Pura, also outside the town, is a monumental complex of great value that is believed to rest on much older structures, perhaps the Temple of Chalcis.

On 14 February, Lovers' Day, St Valentine ’s Day has been celebrated since 1618 as the patron saint of the town and its orange groves (Igp). The Saint's relics are kept in the Collegiate Church of the Assumption and are carried in procession through the streets of the town.

On that day, lovers from the surrounding area taste the juice from the blessed oranges as a propitious love potion and exchange sweet effusions in the Vicolo del Bacio, a narrow street in the old town only 50 centimetres wide.

A few kilometres from Vico del Gargano, one descends to the splendid seascape of San Menaio, a small fishing village, which with its vegetation rich in pine and orange groves and its well-equipped beaches is a destination for summer holidaymakers.

Places to visit: Old Town, Castle, Chiesa Matrice, Church of the Misericordia, Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli and the Church of San Pietro, La Foresta Umbra, San Menaio, Vicolo del Bacio.

The morning of Good Friday represents the most moving and significant moment of the Easter rites. The Processione delle cinque Addolorate, which winds through the narrow alleys of the historic center, sees the confraternities parading in traditional attire, carrying the statues of the Passione di Cristo. During the evening procession on Good Friday, the chant of the Miserere, performed in multiple voices according to the ancient local tradition, accompanies the entire procession, creating moments of deep emotion. The unique acoustics of the historic center’s alleys amplify the power of these choral chants, making the atmosphere even more evocative and immersive.

Holy Thursday

Pianto della Madonna

On the evening of Holy Thursday, female voices perform the moving Pianto della Madonna during the evening service, creating a moment of intense spirituality and emotion.

-Date: April 17, 2025

-Time: 5:00 PM

-Location: All churches

Holy Thursday

Uffizio delle Tenebre

Late in the evening, in the churches that serve as headquarters for the confraternities, the Uffizio delle Tenebre is celebrated, during which the chants of the religious tradition of Vico are performed. The rite concludes with the "schopp", a symbolic gesture of darkness and rebirth.

-Date: April 17, 2025

-Time: 8:30 PM

-Locations: Chiesa del Carmine, Chiesa S. Giuseppe, Chiesa della Misericordia, Chiesa S. Nicola, Chiesa del Purgatorio.

Good Friday

Penitential Processions in the Morning with Visits to the Sepulchres

Starting at 8:00 AM, the penitential processions of the confraternities of Vico del Gargano begin, accompanied by the faithful, visiting the "Sepolcri" in the 12 churches of the town. The processions, characterized by the chanting of Psalm 50 - Miserere, culminate at the Chiesa del Convento dei Cappuccini, where each procession stops to pay homage to Gesù Sacramentato, singing the Pange lingua gloriosi and Tantum ergo Sacramentum. Each procession is led by three children, followed by the confreres, the Addolorata, and the Cristo Morto.

-Date: April 18, 2025

-Time: 8:00 AM

-Location: All churches

Good Friday

Messa Pazza and Afternoon Agony

At 3:00 PM, in the Chiesa del Purgatorio, the liturgy of the Adoration of the Cross is celebrated, followed by communion with the Presantificati, known as Messa Pazza. This is followed by the Three Hours of Agony, with a sermon on the seven words of Jesus on the Cross, accompanied by particularly evocative chants.

-Date: April 18, 2025

-Time: 3:00 PM

-Location: Chiesa del Purgatorio

Good Friday

Solemn Evening Procession

At 6:30 PM, the confraternities of Vico del Gargano gather for the Solemn Evening Procession, departing from the Chiesa Matrice. The procession ceremonially carries the fercolo of the Addolorata and the Cristo Morto, symbols of suffering and the Passione di Cristo. The procession reaches the Calvario, at the far end of the Carmine district, where chants and prayers are performed in front of five crosses, symbolizing the wounds of Christ. After returning to the Chiesa di San Nicola, headquarters of the Arciconfraternita del SS. Sacramento, the Cristo Morto is accompanied to the Chiesa di San Giuseppe by the Cinturati di Sant’Agostino e Santa Monica, where the complete Miserere is sung. The other confraternities return with the Addolorata to the Chiesa Matrice, accompanied by street polyphony.

-Date: April 18, 2025

-Time: 6:00 PM

-Location: Departure and return to the Chiesa Matrice

ARCICONFRATERNITA DEL SS. SACRAMENTO

Its headquarters is in the Chiesa di San Nicola. Its formation dates back to 1581, as recorded in the document of the notary Scipione Petreo.

The symbol of this confraternity is the medallion with the Sacrament. The attire consists of a white liturgical robe, a sky-blue mozzetta, a blue cord for the brothers, and a green one for the Prior. The banner is sky-blue and bears the image of the Blessed Sacrament. Only during Holy Week do the brothers cover their heads with a white cloth held by a crown of thorns, wearing the white robe and cord, while carrying a black penitential cross in procession.

CONFRATERNITA DELLA MORTE E ORAZIONE

The Confraternita della Morte e Orazione was founded in the Chiesa del Purgatorio (dedicated to the deceased) in 1684, as recorded in the document written by notary Michelangelo Albanese.

The attire consists of a white liturgical robe, a brown mozzetta, and a brown cord. Its symbol is a crest with the Madonna Alma Santa del Purgatorio. The banner and standard are made of dark red satin.

During Holy Week, the brothers cover their heads with a white cloth held by a crown of thorns, wearing the white robe and the brown cord.

CONFRATERNITA DEI CINTURATI DI SANT'AGOSTINO E SANTA MONICA

This confraternity welcomes the Consorelle Cinturate, who are devoted to their patroness, Saint Monica. It was founded on December 6, 1708, in the Chiesa di San Giuseppe at the altar of Santa Maria della Consolazione.

The attire consists of a white liturgical robe, a black mozzetta, and a black leather cord for the brothers. The Consorelle wear a light beige liturgical robe, a black mozzetta, and a black veil on their heads. Its symbol is a medallion featuring Saint Augustine and Saint Monica.

During Holy Week, the brothers cover their heads with a white cloth held by a crown of thorns, wearing only the white robe and the cord. The banner is decorated with golden fringes and displays the image of the saints, along with the name of the congregation and the standard.

CONFRATERNITA DI SAN PIETRO

The Confraternita di San Pietro was established in the late 18th century under the name Confraternita di San Pietro e Paolo in the then Chiesa del Cimitero in 1793. In 1991, it was re-founded under the name Confraternita di San Pietro in the Chiesa di Santa Maria della Misericordia.

The attire consists of a white liturgical robe, a burgundy mozzetta, a red cord, and a burgundy sash with a rosette. Its symbol is the image of Santa Maria della Misericordia and Saint Peter.

The congregation preserves the original banner of Saint Peter the Apostle, decorated with intricate details and embellishments. The standard is made of dark red satin, bordered with an ornamental fringe, depicting Saint Peter the Apostle and the Madonna ad Nives on both sides.

Only during Holy Week do the brothers wear a white robe with a red cord, a white cloth on their heads held by a crown of thorns. The Prior is distinguished by wearing a wide sash, crossed by two small gold-yellow ribbons, draped diagonally from the right shoulder to the left side of the body.

CONFRATERNITA DEI CARMELITANI SCALZI

Its origins date back to December 10, 1902, but it was only on January 24, 1925, that it received approval from the Archbishop, although, according to the brothers, it had already been operating without canonical authorization since 1865.

The confraternity's attire consists of a brown robe with a hood falling over the back, a white mozzetta with a golden star on the left side and a crown beside it, a devotional scapular, and a white cord.

It is the only confraternity that maintains the same attire during Holy Week, when, in the Good Friday procession, it carries the statues of the Mysteries of Jesus Christ. The standard is made of brown satin and features in the center the image of Santa Maria del Monte Carmelo. Its headquarters is in the Chiesa del Carmine, and its symbol is a star.

Cities Info

Comune di Vico del Gargano

T +39 088 499 8311

Polizia Municipale

T +39 088 499 8336

Infopoint Turistico

Via della Resistenza, 119

T +39 088 499 4666

info@infopointvicodelgargano.it

www.comune.vicodelgargano.fg.it

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