Easter 2027 in Naples: Holy Week, the Misteri of Procida, pastiera and Easter Monday
Easter is early in 2027: Sunday 28 March, with Easter Monday (Pasquetta) on the 29th. Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday, 21 March, and reaches its most intense moment on Good Friday, 26 March, with the Misteri procession on Procida. Here's what to see, what to eat and how to plan the long weekend.
At a glance
- Dates
- Palm Sunday 21 March, Holy Thursday 25, Good Friday 26, Easter Sunday 28 and Easter Monday 29 March 2027
- Misteri procession
- Procida, Good Friday morning: from Terra Murata down to Marina Grande; free to watch
- Hooded processions
- Sorrento peninsula, Holy Thursday night and Good Friday; 2027 times not published yet
- What to eat
- Pastiera, casatiello and tortano, in every pastry shop and bakery in the days before Easter
- Museums and archaeological sites
- The main state sites usually stay open at Easter and on Easter Monday; 2027 hours are not out yet
- Getting to Procida
- Ferries and hydrofoils from Naples and Pozzuoli; for the procession it's best to sleep on the island
Holy Week 2027 dates
| Day | Date | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Palm Sunday | 21 March | blessing of palms and olive branches in the churches |
| Holy Thursday | 25 March | evening processions on the Sorrento peninsula; on Procida the hooded Apostles procession |
| Good Friday | 26 March | the Misteri procession on Procida, processions on the Sorrento peninsula |
| Easter Sunday | 28 March | family lunch with casatiello and pastiera |
| Easter Monday (Pasquetta) | 29 March | the traditional day out of town |
Good Friday on Procida: the Misteri procession
This is the most famous Easter ritual in the Bay of Naples. The Misteri are allegorical floats built by hand every year from wood, fabric and papier-mâché, depicting scenes from the Old and New Testament. Groups of young islanders spend months making them, and the workshops can often be visited in the days before Easter.
On the morning of Good Friday, at first light, the procession sets off from the ancient walled village of Terra Murata, at the top of the island, and winds down to the port of Marina Grande. The Misteri are carried by members of the Turchini confraternity, founded in 1629, in their white robes and blue capes; the procession closes with the statue of the dead Christ. On Holy Thursday evening, the night before, there is a separate procession of hooded Apostles.
Tip: the procession starts very early. If you want to see it from the beginning, spend Holy Thursday night on Procida and book well ahead: it's one of the island's busiest weekends. How to get there in our guides to Procida and ferries and hydrofoils.
Processions on the Sorrento peninsula
Between Holy Thursday and Good Friday the towns of the Sorrento peninsula, from Sorrento to Piano, Meta, Sant'Agnello, Massa Lubrense and Vico Equense, hold their own processions of hooded confraternity members, with chants and torches. In Sorrento the best known is the "black" procession on Good Friday evening. Times vary from town to town and are published shortly before Easter. Read our guide to Sorrento.
What people eat at Easter
- Pastiera: the symbol of a Neapolitan Easter, a tart filled with cooked wheat, ricotta, eggs and orange-blossom water. It's made a few days ahead so the flavours can blend.
- Casatiello: a rustic bread stuffed with cured meats and cheese, with whole eggs set into the top and held in place by crosses of dough. Tortano is its cousin without the visible eggs.
- More sweets in our guides to Neapolitan pastries and typical Neapolitan dishes.
Easter and Easter Monday: what's open and where to go
- Museums and archaeological sites: in recent years the main state sites, such as the ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum and the Archaeological Museum, have stayed open at Easter and on Easter Monday, sometimes with different hours. The 2027 hours have not been announced yet: check the official websites the week before. See our guides to Pompeii, Herculaneum and the Archaeological Museum.
- Restaurants: on Easter Sunday and Monday they fill up with Neapolitan families. Book your lunch.
- The Easter Monday trip: Neapolitans head out of town. Classic destinations are Vesuvius, the Royal Palace of Caserta and its park, Sorrento and the islands. Trains, ferries and roads are very crowded: set off early.
Pair it with Easter
- Procidathe Misteri procession
- Ferries to the islandsdepartures from Naples and Pozzuoli
- Sorrentothe hooded processions
- Royal Palace of Casertaan Easter Monday trip
Frequently asked questions
When is Easter in 2027?
Sunday 28 March 2027. Easter Monday is 29 March and Good Friday is 26 March.
What time is the Misteri procession on Procida?
It sets off early on Good Friday morning, at first light, from Terra Murata and winds down to Marina Grande. The exact 2027 time has not been published yet: to see it from the start, stay overnight on the island.
Are museums in Naples open on Easter Monday?
Usually yes: in recent years the main state sites, from Pompeii to the Archaeological Museum, have stayed open at Easter and on Easter Monday. Check the 2027 hours on the official websites closer to the date.
Where to stay for Good Friday
6 places to stay in Procida on Napolibnb.it, the Naples holiday-rental portal: you contact the host directly, with no booking fees. Every listing shows its official CIN code.
