How is Holy Week lived in Spain?
Discover how the Spanish will spend the first post-pandemic Holy Week
In various parts of the world it is common to celebrate Holy Week, with long and massive processions, in which believers go out to celebrate the memory of the Passion of Christ, taking out the images that represent Jesus or the Virgin; observing in turn, the most important brotherhoods.
Spain is a country that, in addition to being deeply rooted in the Catholic Church, shows the best Holy Week processions, becoming a traditional and tourist celebration that attracts visitors from all over the world.
A particularity of the Spanish Holy Week is that the religious images that go out into the street were made by the best Spanish sculptors in history; turning these processions into true open-air museums.
This year 2022 is very special for the Spanish, since it is the first Holy Week that they will be able to fully enjoy, after two years of sanitary restrictions ; becoming an opportunity to reactivate tourism and rediscover their traditions.
The best 5 places to experience Holy Week in Spain this 2022
1. Valladolid
Valladolid is one of the Spanish cities, where you can enjoy more of Holy Week, with its great silent processions, along with the great sculptures that will take to the streets.
Throughout Holy Week, there will be a total of 39 processions, where 20 Brotherhoods or Brotherhoods will participate, which will give a colorful touch to this important Catholic procession.
The most important days in Valladolid will be from Holy Thursday to Easter Sunday, having Holy Week in Valladolid, two places where people live in a special way:
Medina de Rioseco : with its tours of the Historic District.
Medina del Campo : carrying out the procession of the brotherhoods in front of the Castillo de la Mota; where you will feel in medieval times, thanks to the castle in the background, and the costumes of the brothers.
2. Lugo
In Lugo, one of the most anticipated processions of the year takes place, since in this town, the oldest in all of Galicia take place.
The Viveiro processions in Lugo date back to the 13th century, and this 2022, after two years of the pandemic; One of the most anticipated returns is being prepared, to the processions of the Holy Week.
In Lugo this year, the best processions will take place on the following days:
Holy Tuesday : the day on which the procession of the Bo Xesús and the Nazarene will take place, leaving the Cathedral, until meeting in the Plaza Mayor, with the image of the Virgin Mary.
Holy Wednesday : when the Santo Cristo do Perdón and Nosa Señora da Piedade come out in the night procession, next to the penitential Via Crucis, which will leave the Cathedral.
Good Friday : the procession of the Holy Burial.
Resurrection Sunday : Mass will be held in the cathedral, followed by the procession of the Risen Christ.
In Viveiro during these days the Adral Program is developed, which will consist of a series of talks, conferences and cultural events, on the historical and cultural importance of Holy Week in the town.
3. Seville
Without a doubt, Seville is one of the best cities to spend Holy Week, not only in Spain, but in the world.
Some of the sculptural carvings that will be seen around the city were made by the best sculptors in Spanish history, converting these processions; as in other major cities, in a walking museum.
The costumes of the participants of the brotherhoods, will not leave anyone indifferent, with white, purple, black, etc., colors that identify the Brotherhoods in the procession.
Among the most important processions are:
Holy Monday : with the Vera-Cruz procession, which dates back to the 14th century.
Holy Thursday : with the music that will accompany Las Cigarreras; in addition to the procession of the Brotherhood of the Valley.
Resurrection Sunday : the procession of the risen Christ in the San Luis neighborhood.
4. Malaga
The processions of Malaga are one of the most visited in all of Spain, with tours through its streets, where the so-called Malagueño Thrones can be seen, and the smell of incense everywhere, which will plunge the participants into an atmosphere of calm and religiosity. important.
There will be 31 Brotherhoods or Brotherhoods that will participate this Holy Week, which will fill the city with religious images, the typical outfits of the brotherhoods, and a unique atmosphere, in the most important points of Malaga.
One of the most important moments will be Holy Thursday, when the transfer of the Christ of Good Death and Souls will take place; in addition to the Throne of the Holy Supper and the Virgin of Peace.
Resurrection Sunday is another important day, when the Brotherhoods go out to the historic center of Malaga, to carry the Risen Christ on their shoulders, showing the processions of the Brotherhoods+ for the last time, until next Holy Week.
5. Pomegranate
Granada is one of the most beautiful and spectacular cities in all of Spain, with several places considered a World Heritage Site, along with excellent places that will transport you to other times.
The beauty of its streets and the mix of cultures make Granada an important tourist destination all year round; but when Holy Week arrives, the city acquires a special look.
Several of these processions have the Alhambra as a background, for example, on Holy Wednesday when the Cristo de los Gitanos passes by; or on Holy Saturday, when the procession of the Lady of the Alhambra takes place.
For its part, the incredible Albaicín neighborhood, a place where several tourist spots are concentrated, becomes the central point of the processions; as will happen on Holy Thursday, when the images of the Virgin pass, or the Christ of Silence, whose procession is nocturnal.
These have been the five best places to enjoy Holy Week 2022 in Spain, a country where culture and tradition become an excellent tourist proposal.