Semana Santa 2011
March 31st, 2011
Holy Week, or Semana Santa, is fast approaching and preparations are near completion for the Easter traditions celebrated throughout Spain.
In the southern region of Andalusia especially, it is a huge spectacle. Seville, the regional capital, hosts some of the biggest processions.
Seville is also a convenient base for exploring Andalusia, making it easy to travel from city to city while seeing some of the best parades set against some of its most beautiful historic places.
Cordoba is only about 1 and a half hours away and just over an hours drive is Cadiz, one of Europe’s oldest cities, while the provincial capitals of Granada and Malaga are both less than a 3 hour drive.
Andalusia is flooded with tourists during Holy Week, so hotels can be expensive and should be booked in advance where at all possible.
Processions begin on Palm Sunday, the 17th April, and reach their pinnacle after midnight on Good Friday, a time known as La Madrugada.
Tourist offices can provide a complete timetable as well as advice on the must-see processions and where to view them.
Semana Santa processions can also be experienced in many smaller towns throughout Andalucia, until the final parade finished on Easter Sunday, the 24th of April.
- 17th April – Palm Sunday (Domingo de Ramos)
- 18th April – Holy Monday
- 19th April – Holy Tuesday
- 20th April – Holy Wednesday
- 21st April – Holy Thursday
- 22nd April – Good Friday
- 23rd April – Holy Saturday (Sábado de Gloria)
- 24th April – Easter Day (Domingo de Resurrección)
