Semana Santa

Semana Santa, a very important week for the city. You've probably already seen the stands at Plaza de San Francisco. These are all for the week of Semana Santa. This week is the week before Easter. And is very important for every Spaniard. But what exactly is it?

What is Semana Santa?

Semana Santa means holy week. And is the week before Easter. This week they celebrate Spain extensively and have several traditions. This Easter week originates from the Catholic Church. Several Catholic brotherhoods draw in boutique processions through the streets. They carry images that show the suffering of Christ and Mary. This week is popular among the Spanish, who look in large numbers at the processions.

What happens during Semana Santa's week?

Several brotherhoods have their own paso’s, which they carry throughout the city during the week. Each brotherhood does this at its own time and with its own route. They always start at the church of brotherhood and walk to the cathedral and back again. There are a lot of brotherhoods, so throughout the week you can see these processions. Some are very famous for the beautiful paso’s or because the brotherhoods are very large.

The different processions in Seville?<

What exactly can you expect from a procession? What does it look like? I'd love to take a look at that with you so that you're well prepared and know what's going on.

A procession can take a very long time. A brotherhood is not so fast because they have to take those very heavy images with them. During a procession, there is a regular break. Sometimes it can take hours to get from one side of the city to the other. This is because Seville is mainly made up of small streets. You cannot cross a procession easily.

People walking in a procession

You have several people who walk with in a procession. For example, you have the carriers of the paso’s. They therefore walk under the Paso (the image they carry on their neck). You can often have their feet underneath the cloth come out. They also often have canvases in their necks on which the Paso relies.

You also have the nazareno’s. They wear long robes with high point hats, which cover their face. They are therefore unrecognizable and anonymous. They often wear candles or crosses. You will see that children have sometimes rolled up the mask so that the face is not covered. Children along the road with balls of aluminum or plastic bottles collect the candle grease of the nazareno’s.

What is a procession like?

Each procession is about the same and therefore has about the same steps. You'll see a group of nazareno’s first. Next, a music corps follows. They make music and also indicate the rhythm of walking, so that the carriers know exactly when to take a step. Then follows the first Paso with images. The paso’s often depict the suffering of Christ: His crucifixion or anything else that has to do with it. For example, you also have the Last Supper. The following are more nazareno’s. The second paso is often the suffering of Mary.

Where is the best place to stand?

The Cathedral of Seville: It is always very busy here, but well worth it. Because all processions always walk here and walk back from here.

The bridge of Isabella Segunda: This is the bridge to Triana. Many processions that come out go over this bridge. You have a beautiful view of the water.

Plaza del Salvador: From this square you can see the procession well because it has to go through a bend. A bend is also something very good to see because it comes to look at everything. It is a complete maneuver.

During the week of Semana Santa 31/3 to 09/04. We also only cycle in the morning because we don't get through anything on the bike anymore. If you would like to know more about Semana Santa, ask the guide during the bike tour. We'd like to tell you a lot more about this week in Spain and Seville.