Situated on top of a hill overlooking the entire town of Buccheri, the Church of the Crucifix represents a place of prayer and meditation, guardian of the quiet and spirituality of the picturesque Sicilian town. With a history deeply rooted in local traditions, this church has always played a central role in Holy Week celebrations, offering a context of pure devotion and reflection to its faithful.
Ancient traditions and the path of the Way of the Cross
In the past, as well as today, the Church of the Crucifix hosted Holy Week services, attracting the penitent faithful who walked a path marked by the chapels of the Way of the Cross. This path, which ran from the top of the cliff to the last houses of the village, evoked Jesus’ martyrdom and incited devotees to meditate on his suffering.
The last chapels, now in ruins and abandoned, were demolished in 1823, but the path continues to keep alive the memory of this ancient tradition of faith and recollection.
Alfredo Romano’s work in the Forest of the Crucifix
Continuing along a small path inside the Forest of the Crucifix, it is possible to discover an installation by artist Alfredo Romano, which depicts the Madonna facing heaven. This work is based on a similar installation located in the city of Syracuse, creating an evocative parallelism between these two places of worship and spirituality.