Semana Santa (Holy Week): Easter

Spring in Seville means two things, Semana Santa (Holy Week in English) and our similarly extravagant April Fair celebration. While the fair is all about traditional dance, delicious food, and ice-cold sherry, Semana Santa takes a very different tone.

Huge statues representing various images from the Passion of Jesus Christ take the streets in processions that last up to 12 hours. Schools shut, certain workplaces close and the whole city bands together in appreciation of the spectacle.

Holy Week, Semana Santa, in Andalucia is an event that literally transforms towns and cities across this region. Processions of elaborately decorated floats with Jesus and Mary statues, groups of pointy-hood wearing Nazarenos (penitents), and shrill brass bands, walk slowly through the streets, from their parish church to the cathedral and back. It is an amazing experience, and a great time to come to Andalucia if you want to imbibe some deeply-held traditions that have less to do with religion than with social groupings and rituals. Many people avoid this time of year to visit Andalucia, but if you come prepared, both for the crowds and the inflated prices, then it is well worth the effort. You will never see anything like it again.