Good Friday

I'm a little puzzled by your question. There will not be an "Easter procession" on Good Friday. There will be at least one liturgy, usually lasting about 3 hours, and traditionally celebrated between noon and 3. There may be another liturgy in the evening, for those unable to attend during the workday.

The cathedral will not be "shut", although I would anticipate that it would close to tourism, minimally during the times of the liturgies, maybe longer. I would suggest you check the cathedral website, since every Catholic church I've ever seen posts the times of the Triduum liturgies for their parishioners. There typically will be special schedules from Holy Thursday through Easter Sunday.

With smaller churches, I've had good luck contacting either the diocesan office or a local tourist office (and the diocesan office is likely to provide more accurate information, in my experience). If you're not fluent in Italian, email may be the best tool, provided you can find the correct email address. Otherwise, I'd suggest giving them a call.

thanks for replying ive been to many places in Italy on good friday and its usually a big thing they go on for hours in the streets with hundreds of people carrying efiges and a manner of different things playing music . So I'm a bit suprised that youv'e said this. Thanks

Good Friday is certainly one of the most important days in the liturgical year. However, I've never seen it treated as a festive occasion, no matter where I've been -- and I would be aghast if that were the case. There may well be a procession (and thee typically is, at least within the church), but the tone will be solemn.

hi sherry check out you tube look for good friday processions in say palermo, trapani and try erice ,sicily then you will see they are not celebrations as such but are definately parades in malta it is the same , and they are solem, but they are definately outside and not within the confines of a church

Monreale is doing something at 16:00. It could be a procession following the noon to three prayer time. You could also email the Palermo Tourist Office: info@visitpalermo.it.

Good Friday as a festive occasion?
Doesn't seem likely.

hi thanks all
but i managed to find the itinery for the palermo processions and that the 389 bus to monreale on good friday is working and that the cathedral will be open at 8.30 to 10.30 before their procession, but have decided to get straight back to palermo as they shut all its roads and well enjoy it more if we are just walking around watching and it doesnt end until midnight. Thankyou eveyone for your replies, I can assure you all that its a big thing in Italy and most strong catholic countries, also I have included an aricle that I have read from the palermo chronicle that gives procession times if anyone else is in palermo and needs to know.
Thankyou all.

PALERMO. The Command of the municipal police informs that next Friday will be more than thirty processions that starting from 16 and up to 24 will move from the churches located in all districts of the city. Those with higher impact on vehicular traffic will be held in the city center, with a higher concentration in the time period from 16 to 20.
During the conduct of religious events, the roads will be closed to traffic to the passage of the procession.
The first procession on Good Friday will depart at 15:30 pm from the church of St. John the Guilla the Cape. Next, at 16, move the processions from the church of S. Maria Nuova located in Piazza S. Giacomo La Marina, between the Vucciria and marina of Cala, from the church of the bakers in St. Isidore Agricola, Via Cadorna, behind the hospital of children and the Holy Spirit Parish in Via F. Juvara that will travel via Dante. Half an hour later, at 16.30, will start the statues, the church of St. Mary of Montserrat in Via S. Maria delle Croci and dell'Itria of Cocchieri, in the square of the Church Cocchieri, somewhere in via Alloro.
At 17, the initiative of the parish of Santa Maria degli Angeli Partanna Mondello and St. Basil the Great Via Paruta. At 18 from the parish of St. Gregory the Pope Via S. Martino in Boccadifalco and the church of S. Cristina in New Village.
During the evening , at 20.30 from the parish Our Lady of Providence (via Admiral Rizzo) Via Crucis outside the church, while at 21, there are multiple processions along Via Conte Federico initiative of the parish S. Maria delle Grazie and Settecannoli from the church of S. Salvatore along the course of the Thousand, while Piazza Don Bosco will leave the Via Crucis by the Brotherhood of St. Rita.
Same time for the procession of Via Messina Marine who move from the parish SS. Crucifix Vocationist Fathers and St. Clare of Assisi in via Crispi, in the area of ​​Via Serradifalco that will cross the streets of the neighborhood, with the statues of the Dead Christ and Our Lady of Sorrows and St. Anthony of Padua Arenella. 21.30 start the Way of the Cross from the Church of St. Expeditus Via N. Garzilli.