Bompensiere: Landscape, Church Art and Holy Week

Bompensiere is situated in a hilly area near the centre of Sicily, on the slope of Monte Marrobio. In addition to this hillside location, church architecture, religious customs and local history are among the specific local features of Bompensiere. For you, this initially presents the town as a landscape setting whose other themes lie in church architecture, religious customs and local history. On an individual trip to Italy, Chiesa Madre, Holy Week and Mangiammò can be explored in Bompensiere as distinct focal points.

Waterways and geographical references

Several waterways give Bompensiere's location a specific geographical context. The Gallo d’Oro River forms the boundary between Bompensiere and the area of Mussomeli. The Torrente Nadure stream forms the boundary between Bompensiere and the area of Milena. The Torrente Salito stream partly forms the boundary between Bompensiere and the municipality of Montedoro and also partly crosses the territory of Bompensiere.

Chiesa Madre and Church Art

The Chiesa Madre, dedicated to the Santissimo Crocifisso, preserves an original building plan from the 17th century. The Chiesa Madre also houses a canvas painting by Pietro D’Asaro, known by the nickname il Monocolo.

Holy Week in Bompensiere

Holy Week in Bompensiere renews traditional rites and historical and cultural references dating back to the 17th century. On Palm Sunday, the procession follows a route of approximately two kilometres from a votive chapel at the entrance to the town to the Chiesa Madre. For planning the day, the approximate route length is the main point to consider for this rite.

On Maundy Thursday, the traditional “pani scanati e zuccherati” are blessed during Mass and then distributed to the faithful present. During the Cena Domini on Maundy Thursday, twelve members of the brotherhood, dressed in full traditional clothing, represent the twelve Apostles. The Cena Domini also includes the washing of the feet. For scheduling Maundy Thursday, the Mass is the key reference point for the blessing and distribution.

The Good Friday evening rite includes a Way of the Cross through the entire town. During the Good Friday procession in Bompensiere, the Cross of Christ and the image of Our Lady of Sorrows are accompanied by a marching band and Sicilian poetic songs. For understanding Good Friday, the evening route through the entire town is the relevant spatial reference.

Historical Traces and Small Places

Local history also extends beyond church customs. The locality of Mangiammò is the historic site of a glauberite mine that was exploited in the early 1900s. Bompensiere is also a stop on the “Percorso dei Principi”, whose stages are intended to encourage visits to smaller and lesser-known places. In Bompensiere, the local historical references range from the Chiesa Madre's building plan in the 17th century to the exploitation of the glauberite mine in the early 1900s. Those wishing to combine religious culture, art, the historical world of work and lesser-known places in Bompensiere will find concrete points of reference in the Chiesa Madre, Mangiammò and the “Percorso dei Principi”.

Further places for context: Sutera, Montedoro, Gela, Campofranco, Mazzarino, Vallelunga Pratameno, Resuttano, Sommatino

Caltanissetta as another reference to Sicily: Caltanissetta.