Holiday apartment in Bompensiere: Holy Week, culture and hilly landscape

Bompensiere lies in a hilly area near the center of Sicily, on the slope of Monte Marrobio. The slope of Monte Marrobio forms the landscape setting. Chiesa Madre and Holy Week represent religious traditions; Mangiammò is the historic mining site, and Bompensiere is also a stop on the “Percorso dei Principi.”

Landscape between hills and water boundaries

The area’s boundaries can be traced along several bodies of water. The Gallo d’Oro River forms Bompensiere’s boundary with the territory of Mussomeli. The Torrente Nadure forms the boundary with the territory of Milena. The Torrente Salito partly marks the boundary with the municipality of Montedoro and also partly crosses Bompensiere. Gallo d’Oro, Torrente Nadure and Torrente Salito thus each mark a distinct spatial connection with the adjoining territories.

Chiesa Madre: floor plan and canvas painting

Chiesa Madre is dedicated to the Santissimo Crocifisso and preserves an original 17th-century floor plan. The floor plan points to the architectural history of the church, while its dedication identifies its religious connection.

The church also contains a canvas painting by Pietro D’Asaro, who was nicknamed “il Monocolo.” The painting adds a specific connection to the visual arts to the building’s history.

Mangiammò and historical traces

Mangiammò also leads to a different historical subject. The site is the historic location of a glauberite mine that was worked in the early 1900s. The mine complements the religious and architectural connections with the memory of earlier work. Its period lies after the 17th century, to which the original floor plan of Chiesa Madre dates back.

Holy Week in Bompensiere

On Palm Sunday, the procession follows a route of approximately two kilometers from a votive chapel at the entrance to the town to Chiesa Madre. The approximate route length provides a specific spatial reference point for planning the day.

On Maundy Thursday, the traditional “pani scanati e zuccherati” are blessed during Mass and then distributed to the faithful in attendance. For the Cena Domini, twelve members of the confraternity, dressed in complete traditional clothing, portray the twelve Apostles. The celebration also includes the washing of the feet. Maundy Thursday thus combines a blessed custom with the portrayal of the Apostles and the washing of the feet.

The Good Friday evening rite includes a Way of the Cross through the entire town. During the Good Friday procession, the Cross of Christ and the image of Our Lady of Sorrows are accompanied by a band and Sicilian poetic songs.

In Bompensiere, Holy Week renews traditional rites as well as historical and cultural connections that date back to the 17th century.

Bompensiere on the “Percorso dei Principi”

Bompensiere is a stop on the “Percorso dei Principi” of the Museo Diocesano di Caltanissetta. Its stages are intended to encourage visits to smaller and lesser-known places. For those interested in culture, Chiesa Madre and Mangiammò thus stand alongside the smaller and lesser-known places on the Percorso.

Other destinations: Riesi, Ciolino, Gela, Montedoro, Sutera, Serradifalco, Butera and Acquaviva Platani.

For the higher-level travel overview: Caltanissetta.