When traveling to Spain in the springtime for Semana Santa, or Holy Week, choosing which city you want to visit really comes down to which type of cultural experience you’d like to enjoy on your trip.

While Seville is one of the most popular and extravagant cities to enjoy the week-long festivities, other lesser-known destinations like Zamora host devout and traditional ceremonies honoring the Passion of Jesus Christ. Additionally, Toledo offers a modern twist to the festivities close to the bustling city of Madrid.

For the more religiously-inclined traveler, the region of Castilla y León is the best place to find more festivities and ceremonies centered around traditional Holy Week events. Along with Zamora, you can also visit Valladolid, Leon, Salamanca, Avila, and Segovia in the region. Alternatively, you can venture to the Andalusia region, especially Seville, for the biggest and grandest Semana Santa celebrations in Spain.

Semana Santa in Andalusia: Overview

Semana Santa is a significant event in Andalusia, with the focal point of Holy Week here being the regional capital, Seville. The extravagant elegance of the processions in Seville has made Spain’s Semana Santa celebrations famous worldwide. However, not far behind Seville is Malaga, another city with processions worth experiencing.

If you’ve already visited one of these two cities during Semana Santa, or if you’d prefer something a little less crowded, any large city in Andalusia will provide unique celebrations. For instance, in Córdoba, Semana Santa is taken especially seriously, while in Jaén, you will notice a strong folk influence.

Semana Santa starts a little later in Andalusia than in other provinces, beginning on Palm Sunday (Domingo de Ramos: April 14, 2019), which is the Sunday before Easter itself (April 21, 2019). Other regions usually begin two days earlier, on Friday (Viernes de Dolores: April 19, 2019).

Semana Santa in Seville

Seville is the place to experience Semana Santa—not just in Andalusia but across all of Spain. With nearly 60 processions and over 50,000 participants, Holy Week here is truly a sight to behold.

In Seville, the first of the week’s 58 pasos occurs on Palm Sunday, with the Domingo de Ramos processions from various churches and religious organizations making their way around the city toward the cathedral. Each day between Palm Sunday and Holy Thursday (Jueves Santo), there are between seven and nine of these processions. They start at their respective churches in the afternoon and arrive at the cathedral throughout the day, often lasting until early morning hours.

On Good Friday (Viernes Santo) shortly after midnight, another wave of processions begins. These start to arrive at the cathedral by about 5 a.m., but some may not arrive until 2 p.m. on Friday afternoon. Subsequently, things return to normal in the afternoon, with processions starting mid-afternoon and continuing until nearly dawn.

Holy Saturday (Sábado de Gloria) is a much quieter day, featuring only a few short processions. Most of these start in the evening around 7 p.m. and conclude around 11 p.m. or midnight. On Easter Sunday, the most crucial procession of the week starts just before 5 a.m. from the Santa Marina church and arrives at the Seville Cathedral at 2:30 p.m.

Semana Santa in Malaga

Malaga ranks second only to Seville in terms of pomp and ceremony during Semana Santa. Similar to its larger counterpart, the celebrations here commence on Palm Sunday. Unlike the rest of the week, this first day sees processions starting in the morning, with the initial one scheduled to commence at 9:45 a.m. and concluding at 2:30 p.m. A total of nine processions will navigate through the streets during the day.

Good Friday is regarded as the most passionate day of the week, featuring a total of eight processions. During one such procession, street lights throughout the city are turned off as the Virgin Mary float passes by. No processions occur on Holy Saturday, yet Easter Sunday begins with the week’s most significant parade at approximately 10 a.m.

Semana Santa in Castilla y León: Overview

Semana Santa in Castilla y León is a significantly solemn affair compared to the festivities in Andalusia. While celebrations in Andalusia have faced criticism for being a “celebration” of Christ’s death due to their pomp and ceremony, the events in Castilla y León present a far more reflective atmosphere.

While Malaga and Seville boast numerous processions made of one or two floats (each procession pertaining to a single church or religious group), Castilla y León features considerably fewer processions, yet each can include up to 11 floats. This concentrated approach allows you to spend your days sightseeing without feeling rushed.

There are six main cities in Castilla y León, each hosting Semana Santa with its own unique vibe: León, Salamanca, Segovia, Avila, and the lesser-known but noteworthy Zamora and Valladolid.

Semana Santa kicks off earlier in Castilla y León than in Andalusia, starting two Fridays before Easter Sunday, offering a full 10 days of celebrations. The festivities begin on Friday, April 12, 2019, known as Viernes de los Dolores.

Semana Santa in Zamora

Despite being the smallest of Castilla y León’s major cities, Zamora is renowned for its Semana Santa. Although León and Valladolid host more processions, Zamora’s floats are crafted by renowned artists and hold significant historical value.

Zamora’s Semana Santa begins with one procession per day from Viernes de Dolores until Palm Sunday. From Monday to Wednesday, there is one evening procession each day, leading to an additional midnight procession.

Holy Thursday is noteworthy, featuring enough time after the evening processions to rest before a special Mass in the cathedral in the morning. The day includes three processions spread throughout the day.

In the evening, Zamora adopts a bit of Seville’s festive ambiance, with revelers celebrating in the streets all night long. The atmosphere is family-friendly, drawing individuals from all ages. The festivities conclude with a procession at 5 a.m., known as “la procesión de las cinco de la mañana” (the 5 a.m. procession) or colloquially “la procesión de los borrachos” (the procession of the drunks).

On Good Friday evening, two processions take place. Holy Saturday retains just one procession while also featuring singing in the main square (Plaza Mayor). The events culminate on Easter Sunday morning with a final procession, followed by the traditional meal of eggs and ham known as “El Dos y Pingada.“

Semana Santa in Valladolid

Valladolid is another prominent city in Spain during Semana Santa, standing second only to Zamora in the age and beauty of its floats.

On Viernes de los Dolores (Friday, April 12) and Sábado de Pasión (Saturday, April 13), evening processions take place. Palm Sunday features a blessing in the cathedral, followed by a procession shortly after at midday and another in the evening.

The processions become increasingly concentrated as the week progresses. On Monday, one evening procession occurs, followed by two on Tuesday and three on Wednesday evening. Wednesday night at midnight features three significant processions, showcasing 17th-century floats.

After Wednesday’s busy schedule, there is just enough time for sleep before the bustling Holy Thursday kicks off. First, a mass takes place in the cathedral in the morning, followed by another procession shortly afterward. An evening filled with multiple processions continues until after midnight.

Good Friday is equally busy, beginning with early morning processions, followed by a sermon in the Plaza Mayor, and concluding with more processions in the late afternoon. Thankfully, events wrap up early enough for a bit of rest!

Holy Saturday includes several evening processions, and on Easter Sunday morning, a final procession occurs, leading to the release of doves to signify the end of Semana Santa.

Semana Santa in León

Semana Santa in León is fascinating due to its extensive range of processions. While they may not yet possess the fame of those in Andalusia, León is undoubtedly one of the best locales in Castilla y León to experience Holy Week.

There is only one procession on Friday evening (April 12), but on Saturday evening (April 13), there are four, and on Palm Sunday (April 14), there are five throughout the day. On Monday night, four approach quickly, while Tuesday features three, and Wednesday brings four as well. Finally, Thursday sees five opportunities to participate!

On the night of Holy Thursday, instead of a procession, there is a “ronda” which serves as an announcement for Friday morning’s procession.

Good Friday morning includes a lengthy procession that lasts for hours, with a significant stop in the Plaza Mayor. Additional processions start in the early evening.

On Holy Saturday evening, three more processions occur, with additional ones taking place around midnight into Easter Sunday morning. The week concludes with another procession, a mass in the Plaza de la Catedral, and one final procession at midday.

Semana Santa: Off the Beaten Path in Castilla y León

Apart from Zamora, Valladolid, and Leon, there are other cities worth exploring during Holy Week in Castilla y León. Notable mentions include Salamanca, Ávila, and Segovia.

In Salamanca, significant evening processions occur from the first Friday (April 12) until Holy Saturday (April 20). As the week progresses, more processions fill the schedule, including events lasting Wednesday night into Holy Thursday morning, and Holy Thursday night into Good Friday morning. On Easter Sunday, events culminate in Salamanca’s magnificent Plaza Mayor, featuring a reenactment of the resurrection starting at midday, accompanied by singing and dancing.

Both Segovia and Ávila host events throughout the week as well, alongside other cities in Castilla y León. These celebrations may not draw the same attention as others but offer remarkable cultural experiences, especially against the stunning backdrops of Segovia’s aqueduct and Ávila’s city walls; either option would be a worthwhile day trip.

Semana Santa in Toledo

Finally, the enchanting city of Toledo in Castilla-La Mancha showcases some of Spain’s most impressive Semana Santa celebrations. Being just a quick half-hour train ride from Madrid allows you to easily establish a home base in Spain’s capital and explore the festivities in Toledo.

Events begin early in Toledo and span over two weeks. While most regions start on the Friday before Semana Santa (Viernes de los Dolores), Toledo’s festivities start eight days prior! Minor processions take place from Friday until Wednesday evening, culminating in a concert at the Teatro de Rojas.

On Viernes de los Dolores (April 12), additional minor processions occur, followed by the grand procesion de Viernes de los Dolores around 11 p.m. A plethora of processions, concerts, and reenactments of the Passion are scheduled for Sábado de Pasión (Saturday, April 13). On Palm Sunday (April 14), the day commences with a blessing in the cathedral followed by a series of processions after midday.

Throughout Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of Semana Santa, attendees can enjoy events each evening or witness small processions early in the day, culminating in larger ones at night. Holy Thursday features all-day events, including choir performances in the cathedral and a major procession later in the evening, with activities continuing into the early hours of the following morning.

On Good Friday, events begin early, extending throughout the night and into the early morning. Although rest is scarce, a break for a few hours is offered in the early afternoon for a brief siesta. Holy Saturday features a significant procession shortly after midnight and resumes with a morning choir performance, leading into evening processions.

As the closing day of Holy Week, Easter Sunday continues from Saturday’s midnight procession, restarts in the morning with a procession of the resurrected figure of Christ. At noon, a solemn mass in the cathedral concludes with the final series of processions.