I will be in Seville this year during Semana Santa, prior to starting Rick Steves' Best of Andalusia in 10 days tour, in Cordoba
on April 20. Any advise and recomendations on how to see the processions? I read there will be 1 million visitors this year in Seville for Semana Santa. I am worry that the crowds will be so large that may be almost impossible to see anything.
Thank you,
Adrian
Posted by
3 posts
I am in a similar boat. Wondering what you decided?
Posted by
5621 posts
Have you looked up the route and compared it to where you will be staying?
That is what I would do first--here is a brochure that describes the route.
https://visitasevilla.es/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/SEMANA-SANTA-2024_ENG.pptx.pdf
I was looking for a page with a map but did find this other good description that might give you some ideas:
https://www.seville-traveller.com/semana-santa-in-seville/
Posted by
Living in a suburb of Los Angeles
124 posts
I was in Seville a few years ago during Semana Santa. There were processions all day, almost every day, in different neighborhoods of the City. There was even a timetable paper guide that my hotel gave me. You may find one online? Yes, once the big processions started you could not get around or across. If I remember correctly, all the processions go to the Cathedral and return to their neighborhood church. I found a great viewing spot on the elevated pad near the side entrance to the Cathedral and the entrance to the Alcazar. There were also bleacher seats set up in some areas. Are you able to rent them? It was a great experience. Enjoy.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thank you so much to everyone replying and offering advise. It is very helpful.
Still planning.
Adrian
Posted by
Washington DC
28898 posts
There will be changes to the operating hours of some sights during Semana Santa. I think in most cases it's in reaction to processions likely to block the path to the museum, etc. The local tourist office may have a handout with the special operating hours. In 2019 I found I needed some extra time to work around those adjusted hours (having to go twice to the same part of the city) and to avoid processions, but I was still able to see what I wanted to. Only once did I have a significant issue. I was trying to return to my hotel and needed to cross the path of a procession. I had to walk a lot of extra blocks to do so; that might have been avoidable if I had researched the path of the procession ahead of time.
Posted by
451 posts
If you see a local walking at a fast clip follow them. The best location is a corner as the floats need to slow down to turn. Yes the crowds are large, I wore huge heals to be taller so I could see. Yes crazy, but I do what I gotta do. J