Every 5 years in Sordevolo, in the Elvo Valley, we remind the event that marked the history of humanity: the Passion of Christ. The territory goes on stage: more than 400 residents play the role of actors and give life to an exciting open-air show, in which the Passion of Christ is reconstructed, in a 43,055 square feet amphitheater. Over 30,000 spectators from all over the world flock to witness the performance live.
THE PLAY
Nestled on sunny terraces in the Biella Alps, Sordevolo is a village whose identity is deeply bound to the Passion of Christ. For centuries, this sacred drama has shaped the community, engaging generations in a shared spiritual and cultural experience performed in a natural open-air amphitheater.
Known since the 19th century as the Passione di Sordevolo, it is today the largest popular Passion Play in Italy. Entirely performed by local amateur actors, men, women, and children, it recounts the final hours of Christ with remarkable dedication. The tradition has been passed down uninterruptedly, supported by education initiatives such as the Children’s Passion, ensuring its continuity.
Documented performances date back to at least 1850 and have taken place regularly every five to ten years, except during World War II. Each cycle is organized by a local committee, responsible for every aspect of the production using only local skills and resources, from acting and directing to costumes, sets, and stage design.
The performance recreates Jerusalem in the year 33 AD, with locations such as Pilate’s Praetorium, the Sanhedrin, Gethsemane, and Calvary. The play includes a prologue and 25 scenes, involving about 400 participants. Its text is based on a late 15th-century verse script by Florentine writer Giuliano Dati, rooted in much older medieval lauds that form part of the foundation of Italian literature.
While the text is religious, the organization is entirely secular, and the performance is marked by human realism and spontaneity. Proceeds are always donated to charity, reflecting the play’s strong social and ethical dimension.
More than a theatrical event, the Passione di Sordevolo is a living expression of collective memory, faith, and solidarity, an enduring cultural heritage that continues to unite the village and project its voice onto the Italian and international stage.
A powerful commemoration coming from the past
The Passione di Sordevolo celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2015, in keeping with popular tradition, though several elements suggest an earlier origin.
Rather than focusing on the well-documented 19th-century performances, this overview looks further back. The search for the “first Passione” of Sordevolo, based solely on documents, risks adding dates without revealing its true origins and ignores the wider cultural and religious context of Piedmont.
Evidence of earlier Passion plays exists in the region, including performances in Turin in 1463 and 1468, and a well-documented cycle in Revello, near Saluzzo, between 1481 and 1486.
