Spain in-depth: Festivals
Seville Easter festival
The holy week in Seville.
Semana Santa is the time of “La pasión” as locals refer to it. Seville Easter Festival or holy week is one of the busiest times of the year. Local sevillanos and Spaniards from other regions alike gather in the streets to encourage the different brotherhoods whilst they parade with heavy and beautiful art masterpieces through the narrow streets of Seville.
It is a tradition to go witness the Spanish Holly Week in the streets, going to see the starting point of one of the processions and waiting in nearby bar, having some tapas, for the next one to pass. For ones who know Seville very well, it’s great, but for the ones who don’t, it is more difficult, with the number of blocked streets and the famous “Bullas” that don’t even let you take a step. It might be best to stay close to the Cathedral, next to the back door leading to calle Mateos gago and the archbishop, because there you will see a lot of the processions that are obligated to pass next to the Cathedral.
You should also bear in mind that hotel reservation need to be booked early, because prices shoot up, the same goes if you want to rent a balcony and chairs, it is very expensive and usually have a lot of subscribers from one year to another.
Getting to experience Spanish Holy Week from a balcony is an unforgettable experience. You can enjoy privileged views, almost touching Christ or Mary as the processions pass bay. On top of that you can get catering and a private area to get together with your family and friends. This way you can avoid the crowds in the streets that enable you to properly enjoy the processions. You can also get some really good pictures from the balconies.
Further from the religious aspect, during the week you can see the streets sculptures of uncountable historical value entirely free surrounded by a mysticism halo.
A lot of Sevillians accompany the procession dressed in Nazarene custom, carrying large candles, crosses… Others choose the penance station, carrying on their shoulders the processional frames as bearers. Some carry the musical accompaniment like music groups or musical chapel, although some brotherhoods lack in musical accompaniment.
