The Holy Week is lived and enjoyed fervently and passionately in several Spanish cities, and most of these celebrations are considered as an event of International Tourist Interest, but if a radar or satellite from space could detect the hottest point with more hubbub and devotion for this festivity, this would be, without a question, Seville.

The city arguably holds the most elaborate procession for a Holy Week anywhere in the world. Living the Holy Week is more than a religious feeling. It is a spectacle in itself. During this week, the city is crowded with residents and visitors, drawn in by the atmosphere. The processions are organised by hermandades and cofradías, (religious brotherhoods), which work very hard during the year in order to carefully prepare even the most insignificant detail. The worst and saddest thing for a brotherhood is when they are not able to follow the scheduled route from their home churches and chapels to the Cathedral, due to the weather.

Most important days
I don’t want you to get tiresome with specific terms -Holy Week has a comprehensive and complicated vocabulary, not suitable for beginners-, so let’s talk about the most important dates. This year, the traditional event starts on March 28th, Palm Sunday, and ends on April 4th, Easter Sunday. The climax of the week is Holy Thursday, the day when Jesus had the Last Supper with his Apostles, followed by the beginning of his passion, the Madrugá, when the most popular processions set out to arrive at the Cathedral on the dawn of Good Friday (Jesus’ crucifixion, performed in 14 stations) and as a culmination, Easter Sunday, the resurrection of Jesus.

The sweetest side
During Holy Week a number of mouth-watering desserts are served in cake shops and convents. Please, trust me and taste these delicious foods, like arroz con leche, (rice pudding), the famous torrijas (similar to French toasts), pestiños, chocolate nazareños, rosquitos, almond cookies…
To live the Sevillian Holy Week will surely turn into an unforgettable experience. And remember, you must reserve your accommodation in advance! Book Apartments in Seville right now!

Holy Week is a religious and cultural event of great tradition in Spain. It is held in every city in the country, but it is lived with special devotion in Andalusia, which is one of the most important celebrations, together with the April Fair. There are thousands of tourists who travel to Andalusia to experience Holy Week, which is celebrated during the week of the first full moon of spring.

This Christian festival commemorates the death and resurrection of Jesus, as well as The Passion of Christ. This way, the church is sanctified and renewed. The week includes from the end of Lent (from Palm Sunday up to Holy Wednesday) until Easter Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Resurrection Sunday). Throughout these seven days, more than 60 fraternities or confraternities carry images of the Passion of Christ and of the Virgin in beautiful processions that delight both the locals and tourists alike.

The processions are organized parades flanked by lanterns and followed by rows of penitents or Nazarenes with candles. The processions are often accompanied by music, except when they are silent. The bands who march along with the penitential brotherhoods are always instrumental bands that remain sombre and play in time according to the spirit of the procession.

The Seville Holy Week is one of the most important in Spain. This has a great international reputation in the Catholic world. So much so that it has been declared a public holiday of International Tourist Interest.

In Seville, images such as the “Virgen de la Macarena y la Esperanza de Triana”, the “Señor de Sevilla”, the “Cristo del Gran Poder” and the “Cristo de la Expiración (Cachorro)” are venerated with a special fervour.

But the Holy Week is considered much more than a religious festival. This is a highly valued cultural period. In Spain, Holy Thursday and Good Friday are public holidays, but many people enjoy a free whole week.

Do you want to discover one of the most deep-rooted traditions of the country? Travel to Andalusia and discover why the Sevillian Holy Week is the favourite one in Spain. Rent Apartments in Seville and enjoy an unforgettable stay.

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