Oberammergau Passion Play 2030 and Italy – Papal Rome, Assisi and Verona
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Oberammergau Passion Play - Ecce_homo © Copyright by Gemeinde Oberammergau
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©Copyright by Gemeinde Oberammergau
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Oberammergau, Bavaria © www.zugspitz-region Fotograf Wolfgang Ehn
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Piazza dei Signori, Verona ©F. Modica, Archivio Comune di Verona
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Every 10 years, in the village of Oberammergau in Southern Germany (Bavaria), the Passion Play is traditionally held. The 43rd Oberammergau Passion Play will be performed again in the summer of 2030.
History of the Obergammergau Passion Play
In 1633, when the small Bavarian village of Oberammergau was in the grip of the plague, its inhabitants vowed that if they were spared, they would in future perform every ten years a Passion Play depicting Christ’s bitter suffering.
In 1634 the villagers fulfilled their solemn promise for the first time, and for hundreds of years since then, despite dangers and threats, they have loyally kept their vow. Pilgrims from all over the world are captivated by the Play, which is not only a testimony of religious faith but also an outstanding cultural event. Read more
Although the text and music have been adapted many times over the years, the traditional concept has remained intact. With inner conviction the amateur actors, all local people, represent time and again the life and sufferings of Our Lord.
The last major changes to the text of the Passion Play were made between 1850 and 1860 by
the parish priest of Oberammergau, Alois Daisenberger, building on the work of Father Othmar Weis. The structure of the Play, with its living pictures from the Old Testament and acted scenes from the New Testament, has been retained to this day.
The music for the Play was composed in the early 19th century by the Oberammergau school teacher, Rochus Dedler. Revised and extended in 1950 by Professor Eugen Papst, it employs a large choir and orchestra and frames the entire spectacle.
The Play shows the story of Christ’s Passion, beginning with the entry into Jerusalem and ending with the Resurrection and Transfiguration.
The Play
Over 2000 participants bring the story of Jesus of Nazareth in a 5 hour presentation on an impressive stage in a theatre capable of accommodating several thousand spectators. Although the text and music have been adapted many times over the years, the traditional concept has remained intact and the play is in German (English translation was a manual in 2022- not known yet for 2030???). The actors are all villagers of Oberammergau who prepare for their roles for years in order to give an authentic portrayal of the last days in the life of Jesus.
The performance usually takes place during the afternoon and evening with a break for dinner. Lunch arrangements and transport around the village are included in the package, making the whole day a relaxing as well as an uplifting experience.
The Theatre
The Passion Play theatre is now a listed building and the stage has been remodelled and brought in line with state-of-the-art technology with some 4700 seats in the auditorium which is covered by an innovative wrought-iron lattice roof that ensures good views from every one of the tiered row seats offering a magnificent mountain background. There is under-floor heating, modern toilet facilities and is barrier-free.
Dates
May - October 2030 (dates to be confirmed)
Suggested Itinerary
Day 1
Arrival Rome
On arrival in Rome you will be met and taken to your waiting transport for the transfer to your 4* hotel in central Rome for the next 4 nights. Dinner is included this evening either at the hotel or a nearby restaurant (within walking distance).
Day 2
At leisure Rome
After a leisurely breakfast, today is time to relax and enjoy the hotel and surroundings. Optional excursions and/or tours can be arranged for those wishing to explore the city independently.
Dinner is included this evening either at the hotel or nearby local restaurant (within walking distance)
Day 3
Rome ‘The Eternal City’ and the Vatican
After breakfast, board the coach for a morning visit and tour of the Vatican Museums (including audio headsets). The museums are one of the most important historical sites in the world housing one of the world’s greatest art collections, amazing architecture and religious history. The walls of the Sistine Chapel are adorned by famous artists such as Michelangelo, Botticelli and Perugino amongst others. (Note: On Wednesdays there is the option to purchase tickets for the Papal Audience in St. Peter’s Square – subject to confirmation and availability).
After the tour and free time for lunch we will enjoy a short introductory walking tour of the historic centre taking in the Piazza Navona, the Pantheon (exterior only), Trevi Fountain and other famous highlights.
Later, we will visit the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill (including audio headsets). This is Rome’s most awe-inspiring monument overlooked by the Palatine Hill, where supposedly Rome was founded.
Return to the hotel for dinner (either at hotel or nearby restaurant).
Day 4
Roman Catacombs
This morning we will take a half-day tour by coach to the Ancient Roman Via Appia Antica located just outside the Aurelian Walls and enjoy a guided visit of the Catacombs of St. Callixtus or St. Sebastian (to be confirmed).
The catacombs are ancient underground cemeteries used by the Christian and Jewish communities as burial places and previously places of refuge and where celebration of the Eucharist took place. They are all located outside the city walls.
After the tour, the rest of the day is at leisure to explore the city further – again, we can assist with excursions, tours and suggestions.
Return to the hotel for a final dinner either at the hotel or a nearby restaurant.
Day 5
Rome to Assisi
After breakfast and check-out of the hotel we will board our coach for our journey northwards to the famous city of Assisi. We should arrive late morning, check-in at our 4* hotel and get some lunch (not included) before the afternoon tour.
Our guide will meet us at the hotel for the walk to the Basilica of St. Francis. This is Umbria’s single greatest glory with one of the most overwhelming collections of art, outside a gallery, anywhere in the world. The basilica is split into two parts – the Upper Church and the Lower. See Gioti’s dazzling frescoes on the life of St. Francis, the brown-robed monks and the crypt where St. Francis is buried. After the visit, we will continue the tour with a stop at the Chiesa Nuova, built on the site of the stable where St. Francis was reputedly born, make a brief visit to the Roman Forum which lies under building in the main square and then the Temple of Minerva and the church that occupies its interior. Finally we will visit the Church of St. Clare to see St. Francis’s tunic and a 13th century painted crucifix.
Dinner is included at the hotel or a local nearby restaurant.
Day 6
Assisi and Santa Maria degli Angeli
After breakfast, our guide will lead us to the Rocca, a medieval fortress which overlooks the town. A stop will be made at the Duomo which is dedicated to San Ruffino, where both St. Francis and St. Clare were baptised and onto the Convent of San Damiano where St. Clare settled with the sisters of her order. From here, we will board the coach to the Hermitage where St. Francis retired with his fellow friars.
After time for lunch (not included) in Santa Maria degli Angeli, a visit will be made of the basilica of the same name where a little church ‘the Porziuncola’ is located and which is a most sacred place for the Franciscans. It was here that a young Francis of Assisi understood his vocation and renounced the world in order to live in poverty and thus started the Franciscan movement.
Return to our hotel for dinner (either at the hotel or nearby restaurant).
Day 7
Assisi to Verona (via La Verna)
After breakfast and check-out, board the coach and travel to the Franciscan Sanctuary of La Verna in Tuscany. This is where St. Francis received the stigmata and is a place of intense spirituality and natural beauty. We will have a guided tour by one of the Franciscan monks and enjoy lunch in the Pilgrim’s Refectory.
The journey will continue to our final overnight stop in Italy via Bologna, Modena and Mantua to Verona. After check-in at our 4* hotel, dinner is included either at the hotel or nearby restaurant.
Day 8
Verona Sightseeing / Travel to Oberammergau
After breakfast, we will meet up with a local guide for a 2 hour walking tour of Verona, strolling along the medieval lanes, seeing many Roman ruins, ‘Juliet’s Balcony’ and, of course, the Verona Arena, Italy’s largest opera theatre seating over 15,000 spectators.
After the tour, we will continue north by coach, passing Trento and Bolzano in the Dolomite Alps, over the Brenner Pass into Austria, skirting Innsbruck and over the border into Germany, arriving at our hotel in Oberammergau in time for dinner which is included. (Note: a stop will be made en-route for lunch – not included in cost).
Day 9
Oberammergau Passion Play Day
After breakfast, we will have a full day in Oberammergau. In the morning there will be the option to visit the Passion Play theatre for an introduction talk by one of the cast members to learn about the production of the Passion Play. After this, there will be free time to explore this picturesque village with the beautifully painted houses, shops and buildings, as well as the Rococo church and many wood-carving shops.
Lunch will be included in one of the local restaurants before we take our seats for the first half of the Passion Play performance which is followed by a 3-hour interval during which time we will enjoy a 3-course dinner with drinks before the second half commences.
At the end of the play, which is around 10.00pm, we return to the hotel.
Day 10
Transfer to Munich Airport and Excursion to Freising
After breakfast we will depart the hotel in Oberammergau and drive north to Munich Airport for check-in and flight home. Enroute, we will make an optional drop-off in Munich for those not wishing to go to the airport.
For those with later or next day early flights, the coach will make an optional round trip excursion to the nearby picturesque town of Freising, one of the oldest in Bavaria and famous for its Romanesque Cathedral, returning to the airport or your airport hotel later in the day.
Oberammergau Passion Play Ticket and Hotel Information
The Passion Play stages around 100 Performances from middle May to early October. We expect there will be five performances per week, taking place on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The Theatre is normally closed on Monday and Wednesday.
Expected Performance times
May to Mid-August Part one 2.30pm to 5pm – Pause for dinner – Part two 8pm to 10.30pm
Mid-August to October Part one 1:30pm to 4pm – Pause for dinner – Part two 7pm to 9pm
Greatdays reserve premium category 1 and category 2 official tickets directly with the official Passion Play Office. Our tickets include two nights in a four (4) star hotel accommodation with two breakfasts and one dinner in the Oberammergau region, if your allocated hotel is not in central Oberammergau village then your ticket will include FREE local transfers to and from Oberammergau village. Your Passion Play ticket will also include and additional lunch and dinner on the performance day in the Oberammergau village or local area.
NOTE: all hotel accommodation is allocated exclusively by the official Passion Play ticket office and not by your tour operator or travel agent.
Greatdays have operated many successful individual and group tours to Oberammergau Passion Plays in 1990, 2000, 2010 and 2022 (2020 was postoned due to COVID). Our experienced teams of travel consultants will be pleased to help with your enquiry, any questions or customised travel programmes in Europe and the UK.
| Departure date | Price per person | Single supplement |
| May-October 2030 | Price on request | Price on request |
