The town is situated on the slopes of a mountain called Toppo Capomandro and it is very close to the river Calore, which runs through the nearby Telesina Valley.

Much of the old town, where people once used to live, is now almost uninhabited, although there have been some improvements thanks to the opening of new restaurants, art exhibitions and the renovation of old crumbling houses.

There are different opinions about the origins of Guardia: some scholars believe It dates back to Roman or Samnite times, others claim it was founded during the Lombard era, and still others believe that it belongs to the Norman period.

The village is known to have had a prosperous period in the early 1600s because of leather workers and became a rich and important economical center.

On Sunday, all four quarters form a single grand procession, with participants holding poses depicting particular moments of the mystery as they walk through town—they do not act out events.

Traditionally the choirs were formed of unmarried girls, but recently married women, and occasionally men, have joined in.

The women wear white clothing, a symbolic crowns of thorns, and braided cords around their shoulders.

On Sunday, the procession is joined by several hundred battenti ("beaters") who strike their chests with a spugna (literally "sponge," an instrument of penance made of a cork disk holding dozens of pins).

Designated helpers pour white wine on the sponges during the procession, supposedly to ward off infection.

They wear black robes and caps, and very gently swing a small scourge over their shoulders.The rite ends with the procession of the Madonna and Child statue through the town.