Every three years, on Good Friday evening, the historic center of Camaiore glows with flickering lights as the streets fall silent, awaiting one of the most evocative and heartfelt processions in the whole of Versilia: the Triennale of the Dead Christ.
A Centuries-Old Tradition that Brings the Community Together
This tradition, rooted in the 16th century, alternates every three years between the hamlets of Nocchi, Casoli, and the center of Camaiore. The 2025 edition brings the procession back to the heart of the city, where, at dusk, it solemnly begins from the Church of the Madonna dei Dolori, winding through the town’s historic streets.
The most moving moment? When the wooden group of the Deposition—a collection of statues of great artistic value, including a 16th-century Dead Christ and a Sorrowful Virgin from 1691—is carried on the shoulders of the confraternity, accompanied by the heartfelt singing of the Stabat Mater.
An Unforgettable Atmosphere
What makes this procession truly unique is the atmosphere created by tens of thousands of oil lamps—called cincindellori—still handmade today following ancient tradition: cork, cotton, and oil, patiently assembled by artisans and volunteers, including Pier Luigi Giannecchini, who has overseen their production for over thirty years.
In the days leading up to the procession, residents set up wooden frames on the windows and doorways of their homes, creating luminous designs. This year, in addition to the lanterns, four spectacular carpets of artistic sawdust will be displayed inside the town’s churches, inspired by the Passion of Christ. A stunning addition that enriches the symbolic and scenic value of the event.
Promoted since 1563 by the Confraternity of the Holy Trinity, the Triennale is warmly supported by the Municipality of Camaiore, which helps keep the tradition alive and accessible by distributing the lanterns free of charge to residents who request them.
The Triennale is not only a religious rite—it is a powerful moment of unity for the entire community. It stands as a living testimony to the love of the people of Camaiore for their traditions, renewed each time with the same emotion as centuries ago.
