Story:
Semana Santa or Holy Week is a major religious festival in this part of Spain. Local church communities prepare (and train!) all year for it.
From Palm Sunday to Good Friday, it's a series of traffic and pedestrian stopping processions lasting long into the night. Each church prepares a pasos (a float bearing a religious effigy) which is carried through the towns for hours by teams of costaleros (literally 'sack men' because of the costal, a sack-like cloth that they wear over their neck, to soften the burden). They are accompanied by the sinister-looking nazarenos (members of the Catholic brotherhoods dressed in long gowns and pointed hoods) and others from the church community carrying candles and other religious ornaments.
It can appear a bit spooky because of the similarity to Ku Klux Klan get-up but that's where the similarity ends - it's a passionate, festive and inclusive atmosphere.
Seville holds the granddaddy of Semana Santa celebrations when the city shuts down normal activity to cater for a complex timetable of more than 100 processions. With the crowds pouring into the city from around the globe, getting anywhere close to the action (or just getting anywhere) involves planning of military precision.
Granada's festivities are just as passionate and colorful but far less crowded. Getting a viewpoint on the procession routes is easy (and it's easy to stroll back to the bar afterwards).
From Palm Sunday to Good Friday, it's a series of traffic and pedestrian stopping processions lasting long into the night. Each church prepares a pasos (a float bearing a religious effigy) which is carried through the towns for hours by teams of costaleros (literally 'sack men' because of the costal, a sack-like cloth that they wear over their neck, to soften the burden). They are accompanied by the sinister-looking nazarenos (members of the Catholic brotherhoods dressed in long gowns and pointed hoods) and others from the church community carrying candles and other religious ornaments.
It can appear a bit spooky because of the similarity to Ku Klux Klan get-up but that's where the similarity ends - it's a passionate, festive and inclusive atmosphere.
Seville holds the granddaddy of Semana Santa celebrations when the city shuts down normal activity to cater for a complex timetable of more than 100 processions. With the crowds pouring into the city from around the globe, getting anywhere close to the action (or just getting anywhere) involves planning of military precision.
Granada's festivities are just as passionate and colorful but far less crowded. Getting a viewpoint on the procession routes is easy (and it's easy to stroll back to the bar afterwards).
Tips:
If this looks good, check out the guide 'Granada Walking Tour - Alhambra and Albaicin' (see link in 'Related Guides').
If this looks good, check out the guide 'Granada Walking Tour - Alhambra and Albaicin' (see link in 'Related Guides').
Tags:
Semana Santa, Seville, Granada, spain, Alhambra, Albaicin
Semana Santa, Seville, Granada, spain, Alhambra, Albaicin
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